Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Our Graduate!

June 18, 2008
She did it!
Tears of great joy!
My Mom, Macey and Me
Proud Papa!
Oh how he loves her so....
Macey we are so incredibly proud of you and all that you have accomplished!
I cannot believe that you are already leaving this season in your life and starting a new one!
You are by far the most beautiful and kindest soul I have ever known and I am honored to be your Mother. You have blessed me from the very moment you were born sweetheart and I am so thankful that God chose me to be your Mother and that by His immeasurable grace He chose you to be my daughter. What a gift. Get ready Macey Girl, the best is yet to come. We love you, adore you, support you and we are here for you today and always my dear, sweet daughter.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The First Dance Recital

This was Bella Grace's very first time performing on"live stage" as she likes to refer to it! 
(She is the 5th one from the left!) She was a dancing "Belle" and danced to the theme song from Beauty and the Beast. I love this picture of her! She is so serious about her dancing and she looks like a picture perfect ballerina here.  She is very tall, elegant and graceful and absolutely loves to dance.
I tried to get as many pictures as I could given the fact that they asked that there be no photography during the recital. Surely they must be kidding!  I tried my best to behave but this was too precious.
Here she is in her second number. Tap class.
She tapped to Shirley Temple's "Animal Crackers". I cried through most of the recital! 
Mainly because I could not believe this was my baby up there on stage dancing away and secondly
because it was just about the most precious thing I have ever had the privilege of watching.
Can you stand this costume?
The finale!
Big Sister Macey waiting in the lobby to deliver flowers from her biggest fans!
A few of the friends who attended her recital and then came by afterwards
for her party to help us celebrate!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

What an incredible demonstration of our Heavenly Father you are to our children sweetheart. 
Thank you for how you love, lift, edify, encourage and teach them. You are one amazing man and I am so thankful for the heart that God gave you , for your beautiful spirit and for the love that pours out of you for this family. We love you so....

Monday, June 9, 2008

Happy First Birthday Sweet Baby Pearl!

A day filled with special gifts....
This is Pearl waking up very early to a bed filled with pink rose petals.
We sang Happy Birthday to her before Daddy left for work...
~
Your very first pair of ballet slippers....
~
I love this picture of her!
Either she is praising Him, or she knows that she is one.....
~
A very special gift from Mommy and Daddy.
An heirloom to keep and pass down for many years to come
and an earthly reminder to wear around your neck of the value
that you hold not only to your parents but to your Heavenly Father as well.
We adore you beautiful Emma Pearl....
~
The prettiest present of all....
~
Flowers from Daddy...
~
Every year he sends me flowers on the birthdays of our children...
I love you sweetheart!
Big Brother gives a little birthday kiss....
Macey Girl gives a little birthday love..
**************************************************
The Party!
Barefoot in the Park
Cake and Champagne on the Lawn!
Her very own pearl cake!
It was gorgeous!
Daddy's Girl....
We love you Emma Pearl!
Loved the cake but not the hat!
I love this picture of Pearl with her bubbles!
Dancing in the bubbles!
Birthday Friends!
Beautiful Emma Pearl
Beautiful Bella Grace
Daddy kissing his girl....
Bennett insisting that I let him jump in the water!!
What a blessed day....
My heart overflows with love and joy for you Emma Pearl. You are a gift to this family in the most special and beautiful ways. We each and every one love and adore you more than words can say. This past year you have blessed us in ways that I cannot write about here, but we have each felt the love of the Father when we have held you in our arms. Grown women have cried 
while holding you for reasons that they can't explain. It is the healing anointing that has been 
poured out upon you, even as a baby. One woman who has never been able to hold a baby, held
you the day after you were born and she and her husband sat and cried together while holding you. Our room was full of people that day and we all just sat and watched God minister to this very special friend through the love of a brand new baby~ and that was you. There have been so many times like this one during the past year, where I have watched in awe as your Mother at the true gift of healing that you carry. Every where we go people stop and want to look at your beautiful blue eyes and touch your sweet face. Many times you have reached out your hand and touched their face in return. You wave and speak to complete strangers every time we go somewhere, as if you have known them for a very long time. This past year has been such a blessing baby Pearl, with you as my daughter. It has been a difficult year in many ways, but God has used you to remind us that He is with us, that He is for us and that He has such a plan. I am humbled to be your Mother. Truly I am. I hope one day, you will understand the weight that you carry in this family and in this world. It is immeasurable. You are loved by so many. Even your name is full of love. Emma means healing and wholeness and many other beautiful things and Pearl has been Daddy's nickname for me, for well over ten years now. Pearl means so many things to me personally, but it also represents purity, wholeness, healing and many other very beautiful things. You are loved and treasured my sweet daughter. Happy Birthday beautiful one.  Written with love and thanksgiving by Mother of Pearl.
  I praise you Father for the gift that is our precious Emma Pearl. We are beyond thankful....

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Sunday in the Park

Here is a recent Sunday morning in the park with my gifts. My husband and our four precious children. As I stood behind the lens of my camera~ I gave thanks to God for choosing me. I gave thanks to God for blessing me with this family~ the deepest desire of my heart, to love and to be loved. I prayed for them, that they would know that they know that they know~ that no matter what life brings, they are loved, supported and treasured by a Mother who prayed for them, lamented for them and desired them long before they were ever born. When God commands a blessing, He adds no sorrow to it and I am so grateful and so thankful for the blessings~ these gifts that He has bestowed upon me. I cherish you my precious family.....

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Heart Be Still

Our sweet Bella Grace graduated from "pre-k" this past Friday and it was a beautiful and emotional (for me) morning with my family. I watched as she proudly sang all of her songs filled with hand motions and facial expressions and then as she walked across the stage to receive her certificate.  I could hardly believe that this baby that I just brought home from the hospital is leaving pre-school and is getting ready to enter kindergarten in a few short months. I know that they must grow up and move on and that with each stage of life it brings with it new memories and moments of joy....I just wish they could stay little for a lot longer. 
Heart be still.....