It is Sunday morning & I'm still praying for Kayleigh! My heart is breaking for her & her family.

SeRiOuS PrAyEr ReQuEsT

Today I participated in the March for Babies. I will make sure to post pictures later.

Right now though, there is a preemie (well she is 10months now) who needs serious prayers! Kayleigh Anne Freeman has been battling for her life since birth last June & has never gotten to go home. She has overcome so much; however, in the last few days they have noticed there is something wrong. She had surgery a few days ago to correct some things so she can go home. According to her EEG this morning, she has no brain activity, but she is breathing on her own. The doctors are not sure if she was deprived oxygen during or after surgery.

Her parents are now struggling more than ever with questions & have requested every person to pray for them.

• Pray they make the right decision.
• Pray for Kayleigh to get through this.
• If it is her time, Pray her parents have peace in knowing that their little baby has brought some closer to God through her.
  
• Pray for God's will.

This is such a sweet baby who has overcome so much in her short life. I pray that she can overcome this as well.



Let the little children come to Me, & do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

TrAdiTiOnS

Well, it has been a few weeks since I posted anything.

Easter was fun! The girls & I went to my little brother's church where he lead the praise & worship that Sunday morning. It was awesome! There church is really nice, not too many people & the music was fantastic! I know my girls enjoyed kids church.

That morning we got up to check on our cookies, well I messed up somewhere & they did not turn out. They were thin & runny in the middle. I found another way to make them, so next year I plan to do it all over again. The girls enjoyed the story that followed along with making them. But while I was beating the mixture Beethoven & I had this discussion:
B: "That is boring!"
Me: "What is?"
B: "That noise!"
B: "Do you like this?" She asks as she stomps her dress shoes on the floor.
Me: "No, that is just annoying."
B: "NO, that is boring!"
So, needless to say, she has boring & annoying confused with one another. It was funny anyway.

We decorated eggs after we got the cookies into the "grave". That was fun as well. That is my most favorite memory of being a child. Sitting around the table covered in newspaper with bowls of different colors & a dozen hard boiled eggs w/my brothers. This is one tradition I will keep going for as long as I can. No one else in my family does this, so the girls & I make enough for my dad, JD & Andrea to eat after we are through.

I love the holidays & I try to find a new tradition that the girls & I can do w/each other every year. Christmas is a hard one since we never know who is going to be here. When I was a child, my brothers & I had to stay in each others room until my parents got up for us to see what Santa brought us (usually one of us would have already snuck out to see). When my sisters came along we would all sleep in mine & my sisters room. We had a daybed w/a trundle underneath, so we would raise the trundle up to make it one huge bed & we would all five sleep in there.We did this until we all started getting married. Then it got too crowded & some of the people did not want to continue this tradition. For me, what is one night w/out sleep together. Oh well.

For Thanksgiving the girls & I usually try out a new recipe. Either a desert or snack recipe. My brothers say the prayer, which are usually awesome to hear! Maybe we can think of a better one to start this year.

New Year's Eve we spend it at my parents' home w/my aunt, cousins, grandma & any other family that is here & not working. We drink margaritas & eat junk food. This year my older brother & his family got to stay & we did Karaoke! It was so much fun! JD & I use to spend it at his cousin's house, but it got too scary driving across town w/all the drunks out there.

What an amazing family I have though & love spending time w/all of them! I would not trade any of them for anything in the world! Some of them I wish I could see more though since they live farther away. Maybe one day we will all be closer.

Easter Sunday...

The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful mean & be crucified, & the third day rise again. Luke 24:7

On the third day Jesus rose from the grave, He had risen as He said.

Now after Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene & the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven & came & rolled back the stone from the door & sat on it.
His countenance was like lightening & his clothing as white as snow.
& the guards shook for fear of him & became like dead men.
But the angel answered & said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not hear; for He is risen as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Go quickly & tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead & indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." Matthew 28:1-7

How awesome is our God, that He does as He promises.

It'S rAiNiNg iT's PoUriNg, ThE oLd MaN iS sNoRiNG

First it started out as a nice little drizzle.
Then it started pouring.
It stopped for a minute.
Then the thunder started & more rain came.
Now it's hailing!!

Holy Saturday...

As you remember Christ laid in the tomb on the Sabbath day before He rose again. A day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future & without hope apart from God & His grace. It is also a day to remember loved ones who have passed on & to honor those who have given their lives for Christ.

Some people honor ancient traditions by fasting for 40 hours before the sunrises on Sunday; however it is observed, Holy Saturday has traditionally been a time of reflection & waiting, the time of weeping that lasts for the night while awaiting the joy that comes in the morning.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But Joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

GoOD FriDaY

Today is the day we Christians remember as the day Christ was beaten, humiliated & hung on a cross to die for our sins so that you & I can have everlasting life.

I feel the story of Jesus being crucified is the most memorable story of the Bible. It is hard to imagine how a man could let someone do this to Him without a fight or struggle. To know that you were born to die one day for someone else sin. Who would do that? When I read the story or hear the story at church, it brings to tears to my eyes. We are selfish & hateful & would never give up so much for someone else. As a mother, I would not want to watch my child be crucified for people who are so full of sin.

My question is, how could you not want to give up everything & glorify a God who gave up everything for you?

I want to be Your hands,
I want to be Your feet,
I'll go where You sent me.

This is the lifetime I turned my back on you From now on, I'll go so Send me where You want me to I finally have a mission I promise I'll complete I don't need excuses When I am your hands and feet ~Audio Adrenaline



For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

EaSteR CoOkiEs

1C Pecans
1tsp. Vinegar
1C Sugar
3 Egg Whites
Pinch of Salt
Zipper Baggie
Wooden Spoon Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (important to do before you start, not wait until you are half way done).

Put pecans in zipper baggie. Let children beat them w/wooden spoon.
Explain: After Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read:John 19:1-3

Let children smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp. into mixing bowl.
Explain: When Jesus was thirsty on the Cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read:John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar (Eggs represent Life).
Explain: Jesus gave His live to give us life everlasting. Read:John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it. Put the rest in the bowl.
Explain: Tears are salty. This represents tears shed by Jesus' followers & the bitterness of our own sin. Read:Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain: The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this & how to belong to Him. Read:Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16

Beat w/mixer on high speed for 15-22 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain: The white color represents the purity in God's eyes of those who's sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read:Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3

Fold in broken buts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax covered cookie sheet.
Explain: Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read:Matthew 27:57-60

Put cookie sheet in oven. Close the door & turn the oven off. Give each child a piece of tape & seal the oven door.
Explain: Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read:Matthew 27:65-66

Go to bed!
Explain: We may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were sad when the tomb was sealed. Read:John 16:20-22

On Easter morning, open the oven & give everyone a cookie. (Notice the cracked surface & take a bite) The cookies are hollow!
Explain: On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open & empty! Jesus had risen & is alive! Read:Matthew 28:1-9

Names in the Sand

I Wrote Your Name In The Sand,
But The Waves Washed It Away.
I Wrote Your Name On My Hand,
But I Washed It The Next Day.
I Wrote Your Name On A Piece Of Paper,
But I Accidentally Threw It Away...
I Wrote Your Name In My Heart
And Forever It Will Stay!! ~Unknown

My sweet Nehemiah

Over the weekend we took a trip to Dallas & we took two detours. At our last detour they had a little sandy beach, so I wrote Nehemiah's name in the sand. Soon the girls wanted their names there too. I ran out of battery before I could do anymore names.

My girls' names.

Makaila collected sea shells to give her cousin, Connorad, for his birthday. Which was super sweet. They are everywhere. Andrea kept trying to find ones that were still whole. We found a huge one, but it was so brittle it fell apart in my hand.

In the coming months we will probably be going back so I will do the rest of the names I want to do. Keep an eye out!

What-A-Burger

We need God in our lives & regardless if anyone takes Him out of a particular saying, a sign, a song, a court room, a book, a school, a coin, a monument, a shirt, a billboard, a movie, a tv show, a radio program, we need to remember He is everywhere!

I am not sure if there is a Whataburger near you or if they are only in certain cities in Texas, but I do know they are one of my favorite places to eat & you need to visit one if you have never been there.

Today I wanted to share with you a sign they have on their drive thru window. I think this is awesome!