hAppY sUmmEr

After our last day of school, we kicked off our summer with a little PAR-TAY!!!

hAppY sUmmEr!!!

we have a kindergarten graduate

Grace had her kindergarten graduation and oh my word, she surprised us so much!!!  She smiled and sang and spoke into the microphone and knew all of her parts and did I mention that she spoke into the microphone...in front of people...like, a lot of people!  I was amazed.

She said, "I also want to be a teacher.  Since I love math, I think I'll make it my specialty.  I have some combinations class.  Please read and answer as I call on you."  Then, she called on her students and held up her giant flashcards.  "Good job students, you all pass."

That wasn't even all.  Later, she dressed up like a bride and said, "I want to marry a boy just like my dad."  And of course, the whole audience replied with an "awwwwww."  She went on to sing, with the other mommies, "Thank you God for my family..."    

I mean, seriously, who is this girl?

She also received her "ticket to first grade."

I know that I'm doing a lot of bragging, but it's because I am so proud and surprised by her!  One more thing, she also won the reading contest in her class!

This is so funny and scary and exciting and sad to me...in just 12 fast years, I'll be watching her walk across this stage again!

Mimi and Poppa got to come!

So did, Grandpa and Grandma!

We are super proud of our little graduate!

Grace's Salvation & Baptism

Way back in the spring of 2013, Grace was riding home from school and she announced to John that she was going to heaven.  He asked her how she knew that and she said "because during naptime, I turned from my yucky sins and followed Jesus."  We were super excited and super cautious because she was so young.  We just kept the conversation going for the next few months to make sure that she truly understood repentance and salvation.  Anytime that salvation would come up, Grace would always say that she was a Christian because she asked Jesus into her heart during naptime.  Finally, in the fall, after much prayer, we had a peace and confidence that she did actually understand salvation and she made a profession of faith one Sunday morning.  The next step was baptism.  Since our church is meeting in a community center right now, we don't have a baptismal.  We baptize in a horse trough outside.  After waiting for warm and dry weather, Grace was finally able to be baptized! 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

{John 3:16}

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

{John 3:17}

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {Romans 6:4}

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

{2 Corinthians 5:17}

awana award ceremony

We had our Awana Award night at church and Carter received his Puggles certificate.

And this year, he didn't take a bite out of it!

Grace earned her Sparks First Book Award...that means that she memorized a whole bunch of verses!  I pray that she will put that truth into action!

And...we celebrated with ice cream from the ice cream truck!

Spiderman ice-cream is dee-licious!

Hello Kitty is pretty yummy too!!!

mother's day

On Mother's Day, I woke up to my kids telling me to stay in bed and read a book or a magazine or watch tv and before I could decide which one, I was reading a book or shall I say, a book was getting read to me.

Next, I was served breakfast in bed.  Grace had been working on this breakfast for the few days before.  (I did get real actual food a little later...thanks to John!)

Everyone gave me cards and flowers.  Grace made this self-portrait for me!  I love it!!!

We had a nice time at church...working in the nursery.  Grace helped me make Mother's Day gifts with the 3 and 4 year olds.

After church, we ate lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant with Mimi and Grandma.  (I'm so sad that I didn't get any pics there.)  Then, we visited with Mawmaw.  If Grace ever wonders what she will look like as she grows up...here is her answer!

Now, I really love the self-portrait that Grace made me, but...this may be my favorite gift ever!  Grace was apparently very concerned that Carter refused to make me a Mother's Day gift at church.  He will NOT paint his hands at church...he hasn't made me anything in two years now.  So, she, I mean, Carter made me this card.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!