Even better than a soccer goal!

To my little boy,

Just 4 weeks ago, you went to school for the very 1st time in your life. My heart broke at losing you (for ½ a day!) and it soared with the pride of watching you grow up. The time I had with you, my oldest one, went by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I cradled you in my arms and looked deep into your happy eyes.

Just 4 weeks ago you seemed like such a tiny guy. I couldn’t imagine you going to a big school.

In just 4 weeks you have astounded me with all you have learned both emotionally and mentally. You have learned ABC’s, 123’s, how to write your name, Bible stories, how to walk in a line, make friends, and 4 Bible verses- the 1st being Genesis 1:1. You were looking around at creation one day when you said to me “I wonder how God made all this stuff!” and I foolishly replied “I am not sure Jackson! It’s pretty incredible though, isn’t it?”
You looked at me between bites full of lunch and said matter of factly “Mrs. Marshall said He just SPOKE IT!”
Oh, I didn’t know I could give the actual answer of God speaking creation into being. Oh Mama of little faith!
“Yes, Jackson, that’s right – He just SPOKE it!”

Over the last 4 weeks we have had many conversations about God and who He is. Heaven, angels, creation, how God can be everywhere at one time, and how He is in each of our hearts. You have been asking me over the weeks “Why isn’t so and so (i.e. Cinderella’s stepmother or other fictional characters) a nice person?” and I’ve been saying “Maybe they don’t have Jesus in their heart Buddy… He helps us to be nice and kind to others.”

Last night, over pasta dinner, you specifically asked me “I wonder WHY she doesn’t have Jesus in her heart?”

I said “Well some times some people don’t want to have Jesus in their heart.”

“But Jesus is in EVERYONES heart!” you replied.

“Jesus is only in our heart if we ASK him to come into our heart. He wants to be in everyone’s heart, but we have to ask him” I said.

“But I don’t know how to do that.”

“I can help you if you ever want to do it” I said as I took another bite.

“I do want to do it… but I don’t know what to say” you said with absolute sincerity.

“OK, well I can pray and you can repeat after me.”

“Can you just pray for me?” you said.

“No Buddy, you have to ask Jesus yourself.”

“Ok, but can you help me? I am a little scared” you said quietly.

“Of course I can help you! But you don’t ever have to be afraid! Jesus loves you so very much and loves to listen to you talk to Him. He is so happy that you want Him to be in your heart! Let’s hold hands!” I said, my heart going wild with excitement. I moved my chair right next to yours and held your cute little hand as you literally repeated after me the sinner’s prayer. It was so amazing and I fought so hard to hold back my tears and steady the quiver in my voice. I felt the Holy Spirit heavy in the room.

When we were done I gave you the biggest hug and told you I was proud of you and asked you if you were excited. You told me with a big smile that you were, but that Jesus had been in YOUR heart for a long time. We talked about how the Bible says that the angels sing and rejoice when we give our life to Christ and you contemplated this for a good while.

Unfortunately, daddy wasn’t home from work yet, we called and you told him on the phone. You got tears in your beautiful green eyes and almost started crying when you told him – like the tears and crying that the Holy Spirit evokes in us. It was really really AMAZING.

This absolutely tops the pride I felt when you shot your very 1st soccer goal on Saturday and the pride and amazement I felt when I see the amazing way you are already writing your seven letter name. You have always been an incredible little boy and you are continuing to amaze me and teach me something new every day.

God was so good to give you to me, my baby boy, after three years of waiting and longing for a baby and now, I am now beaming with even more pride as I say “He is yours and YOU ARE HIS!”

With the angels, daddy and I rejoice!
Love,
Mama

Happy 5 months old Ella Isabel!

Look familiar? Ella is 5 months old, weighs just over 13 lbs. and is 26” long. She is a giggle box, especially when watching her brother and sister. She loves to smile and stand up on our laps. She is a happy girl and lots of fun. We are so happy she is in our family!
(if you remember, i have pictures of the other 2 in this very same basin!)

J A C K S O N

Seems the little guy has gotten quite well at writing his name already!

I BOOMED IT!

Jackson had a great soccer game last Saturday…. He was playing in the last few minutes of the game and he shot ahead of the group, dribbled the ball perfectly and then kicked it full force right into the center of the goal and scored his very first goal!! WAY TO GO JACKSON! The 5 of us went to celebrate at Chili’s afterwards, it was a ton of fun! We listened to jackson tell us the story of his goal about 231 times! He said “I BOOMED it in! I almost broke the net!”
I cannot convey the sheer excitment i felt in the moment he shot that goal! I cheered and screamed and jumped up and down! Mia shouted "HE did it! He did it! BUBBA DID IT!!!" Wow! I'd say that was the best sporting event this non-loving-sports-girl has ever been too!

This is a picture of his smile right after! (it figures it was the ONLY few minutes I did NOT video tape him!)







Running through the victory tunnel:















This is our pictures of his team and individual pictures they had taken as well:










and then there is Mia looking on with her glasses upside down. she's a riot!

videos

Ella Laughing today: http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1359128b6b2a9796ca2e73&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
she is laughing at jackson's jumping and mia saying "tickle tickle tickle!" you can also hear Mia singing "Happy birthday" in the background!

Jackson's 1st soccer game: http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=1323a1ec0aa0bca30bf944&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Mia's very 1st Haircut, 27 months old

Mia has never had even a single hair cut on her head until today! I took her to my salon and she had a little trim to even up the back and to her bangs! Here she is!

princess hair

I think I may have finally found a way to get Mia to let me fix her hair!
I showed her this picture: http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-83959269427248_1912_495413 and asked her
“Mia! Do you want me to fix your hair like a princess?!”
“Yes Mama! Yes! Fix it my hair like a princess!!”
and we got this:














and this, telling bubba "NO! MY wanna say CHEESE!" while he smiled for the camera. Heaven forbid someone else shout out "CHEESE" and smile for Mama!











and this, shouting out "Oh no! It's broken!" (referring to part of the chair)

My Cute Kids on Sunday, September 17, 2006

Remember this?

may, 9, 2006 - 20 days old















september 11, 2006 - 20 weeks old

various pictures from the last 2 weeks

bathroom project, ella got so worn out from the project, she fell asleep in her jumpy!
mia and aidan

Ella chit chats

click the link: See Ella chit chats, age 4.5 months online.

note: Ella does not have a shirt on because she just ate her dinner, and Mama finds it much easier to keep her clean that way!

here is Ella watching herself on the computer!!

Yes, he is AWESOME!! and he's MINE!!!!!

this is what phil did to the downstairs floor this weekend.....

with a little help!

Yellow is for School Buses

Jackson just saw the end of Ellen with me. Beyonce was performing and wearing this:

Jackson said:
“I don’t like that dress. It isn’t pretty. Girls should not wear yellow. Yellow is for school buses, not for dresses. And I don’t know where her pants are!”