Sunsets, dancing with my kids and love

The other day we were driving home and saw this beautiful sunset...........

I love the sunset.  It is like God painted the sky with all the colors of the rainbow.  

Tonight the kids and I were listening to a service on line. During praise and worship we got up in the living room and danced our hearts out. I love it that my kids asked to watch the preaching with me and liked that I got up and danced.  I might have no rhythm and I might not dance well but to my kids.........I am a good dance.  When we dance as David danced, unto the Lord........He finds it beautiful. His love accepts us as we are even if we have two left feet. His love hears our praise no  matter how off key and adores it. He looks at us like we look at our children, with complete  love. 

That is LOVE..........unconditional love of the Father that says.......I love you, even if you can't dance because to me, you dance like the best dancer in all the world. THAT is what HIS love says.

School days...........days 1 and 2....

It's that time of year again, back to school.  Yesterday was their first day............my how fast they grow.

and how they have changed since kindergarten.

Chris willing to take a photo at home and mark the day

Jenny eager and excited

Hannah excited but nervous.

Jenny wanting a picture of everything possible.

Hannah taking a reluctant picture at school with her sister but a bit embarrassed by Mommy and her tendency to take pictures.  She did want one with her teacher, which I obliged. However, she did not want one outside her room like Jenny.  

How they grow and change.  Yet, I am glad that they enjoy school and when it gets down to it, they don't mind enjoying the little moments. 

Today is day 2 and I am tired..................so very tired.  Getting up early is not my strong suit...........but I am working on it.  There will be much coffee drinking.  I want this year to be a growing year for all of us.........not just the kids.

I commit this year and our ways to the Lord and pray we bring glory to His name. Lord watch over our dear children.

Bus time.................my girls and I walking to the bus.......birds singing, air fresh and clean......two little girls hand in hand.......makes my heart sing too.

Summer Day 77--Last day of summer vacation...

We bought most of the school supplies today, we just have to get the numerous boxes of kleenex, paper towels, hand sanitizer and the like but we are mostly done.

After lunch we took a last summer visit to the Creek..........one of our favorite places to be this summer and I even stuck my feet in. This time I did not bust my bottom in the mud.  Yay me.............so here we are on the last day of summer vacation. I am a wee bit sad and the kids are happy and excited to be going back to school.  Time goes by way too fast.  So glad it stopped raining today so I could take the kids to the creek. It was so much fun.

Summer--Day 76--Take time to dance in the rain.

When it rains and there is no lightning take some time to dance in the rain. Not only is it fun, but it is good exercise.  Thank you Lord for the rain today and the chance to dance with my treasures in the rain.

Summer--Day 75 ---Devotions and prayer time

Devotions with the niblets and prayer time is one of the most precious times of day.  Hearing their innocent thought and prayers.  Listening to their simple, child filled faith, makes my heart pound with joy.  I wish that I could bottle these moments and keep them forever.  It is times like this I become even more thankful that Jesus chose us to be His own.

I listened to their innocent prayers tonight.  Chris prayed for his family and that we'd all sleep well.
Hannah prayed and thanked God for and I quote "My lovely parents who take care of me".
Jenny prayed for all the people who do not have food or homes.

How precious are the prayers of children.  As we teach them to pray for forgiveness, their families and others we need to pray that they grow a desire to not only pray for themselves and their needs but the needs of the people in the world around them.  It is a learning process for them, but it is a beautiful process.

Prayer time...........truly a sweet time in the evening.

Ready to hear the Word.  I pray that they will not just be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word

 Group prayer 

Making their own petitions known to the Father.  

Summer --days 73 and 74 Home sweet Home--There's no place like home

We had a good few days visiting my Dad but yesterday we had to come back.  It was a pretty good trip. However, I do have to say the drivers around Atlanta drive like maniacs.

We stopped for supper somewhere ..........out there.......okay outside Atlanta but it was fun having dinner with my sweet husband and kids.  We made them sit on one side and us on the other.  At first they were like but I want to sit by Daddy or I want to sit by Mommy.........but soon enough they realized it was pretty cool sitting all on one side.  What a blessing..........they are.  I am so thankful for them.

As we left from getting dinner last night and continued on our journey home, this beautiful sunset was there to greet us.............

And while visiting family is such a blessing, there is truly no place like home. Home is a special place.  I am thankful that God has blessed us with a home filled with love and faith. I know there are some that long for that. I pray that those who do not have it, God will bless them with Home Sweet Home.

Today was church and my favorite day of the week.  I taught the PreK children's church group and had a blast.  Those kids are cute and fun and they love Jesus.  Children, that is who we are to be like, children, faith like children.  I find that church too is Home Sweet Home and there is no place like a church home who loves and serves Jesus and preaches the Word of God with love and truth.  

Summer day 72 Memories are pictures the heart takes.

Watching my children with my Dad is precious. I am sure it is that way with all grandparents. They are different people than when they were our parents. Being a grandparent changes them. There is a depth to love in that of a grandparent that defies explanation.  I watched my kids enjoy my Daddy this weekend and it brought back memories of having time with my grandmothers. I didn't grow up with grandpas due to their deaths. But I had the best grandmothers this world has ever known. I see that same feeling in my kids.

My bonus mom (aka step mom) has fed us good this weekend. I love her country cooking. Although, I am going to have to work it off for days.  Watching her with the kids is precious. She loves them as if they were her blood born grandchildren.

We went to the water park today. I had to take photos with my heart because water parks and cameras do not mix. I didn't want to risk losing it or dropping it in water.  Playing with our children in the pools and slides and waves was priceless. Seeing them face the fear of a huge drop on a water slide and like it better than me was priceless.   Memories were made today, precious memories.  Memories are just that, pictures our heart takes.

Summer Days 70-71...Wednesday nights and Over the hills and through the woods to PaPa's house we go...

Yesterday evening was church.  We didn't do a lot yesterday but do some laundry and get ready to go to my Dad's house.  We went to church last night and then home again to get read to leave this morning.  It was a good day.

Today we drove down to Dothan, Alabama to visit with my Dad and Bonus Mom (aka step mom).  It has been a good day of travel.  The kids love playing in this big yard and sitting on the porch rocking in the rocking chairs. We waited for humming birds to shows up, but just as it flew up the kids happened to giggle at the kitten outside the screen. So hopefully, we can catch one on film tomorrow.

Scenes from time at PaPa's house...

PaPa has a big, big yard to play in...

Rocking away

The kitty wanting to play with the kids.