Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Presenting Jesse's latest music video...Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I have no idea where he learned the song, but he woke me up singing it last Wednesday moring and he's been singing it constantly. He's really cute when he tries to sing the third and fourth lines, but he doesn't get that far very often. Enjoy!

Winnie the Pooh-Live!

This past Sunday, Grandma Gwen treated all the grandkids (and us Mommies too) with a trip to see Winnie the Pooh-Live! The kids had a wonderful time, of course, and are already talking about wanting to go back. The show was very good, but man o man do those people know how to make some money...the toys, the food, the drinks are all outrageously expensive. And those cute little Pooh hats that you see in some of the pictures...they only came with the cotton candy. So... yes we got four cotton candies and a big ole sugar high so everyone could have a hat. Was it worth it to make some wonderful memories...absolutely!

Grandma Gwen and the Four Musketeers...very excited to finally be there!

The kids looking up in awe as "snow" started to fall in the auditorium.


Whit with his "oh bother" pose.


Trey (above) and Jesse (below) with their fabulous new Pooh hats and toys.

Jesse

Okay, I admit it upfront, this post is a total brag-fest about my Jesse. Jesse is almost 2 1/2 years old and he is a total doll. I recently forwarded on one of those getting to know you emails. One of the questions was what takes your breath away. The first thing that came to mind was Jesse's eyes. He has the biggest blue eyes you will ever see and they are so full of love and laughter. And he has a way of looking right into my eyes that makes my heart melt and takes my breath away. He is a very loving child, and will pick up on anything. Our nicknames for the boys are "big stinky and little stinky"--I know, I know I hate the names too but they've just stuck and we always say it with love:) Anyway, the other day Phil was saying something to Jesse about being little stinky and asked if Trey was big stinky and Jesse looked right at him and said, "no you're big stinky". Jesse also knows most of his colors and shapes. However, he shocked me the other day when he pointed to a picture of a stop sign in one of his books and said octagon. He's learning to count and can identify a triceratops and a T-Rex (thanks to Trey, I'm sure:) He also loves to sing...the Veggie Tales theme, ABC's, pretty much any song he hears. Lately his favorite has been, If You're Happy and You Know It. I've posted a video below of him singing it this past Sunday. Sorry that it starts out sideways...I figured it out and turned it:) Also, he runs in from the hall because I was trying to get him to wait to start singing, and I said ready, set, go which to him means to take off racing.

Age is just a number, right?

Apparently, according to Trey, I am 200 years old. No wonder I feel so old! He made this declaration during supper tonight. And Phil. Well, since he's a year older than me (Trey knows that much:) he's 201 years old.

The Park

As promised, here are some more pictures from our Labor Day weekend on St. Simon's Island. These were taken at one of the boys favorite spots, the park at the pier. Enjoy!

Time After Time

I recently saw this YouTube for Time After Time. The video is wonderful and really spoke to me. I wanted to post the YouTube here, not only for all of you to enjoy but so that I could view it whenever I wanted to. Alas, I can't figure out how to post a YouTube on here so here is the direct link and if anyone can tell me how to post the video on here I would greatly appreciate it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9UWPraNgig

Yea! I figured it out!

Our "Walk" on the Beach

We spent part of our Labor Day weekend enjoying each other's company and relaxing on St. Simon's Island. I will be posting more pictures from the beach and the park later, but for now wanted to post pictures from our beach "walk" Saturday night.

Jesse has a habit of tripping over his feet when he runs, so his initial fall into the water was completely accidental. Trey's first fall, not so much:) But they had a wonderful time and Phil and I had a ball watching them and listening to their squeals of laughter.

Treyism for Friday, August 29th

On the way home from school, Trey pipes up and says,

"I can't believe that I'm already in the numbered grades, Mama, can you?"

No. I. Can. Not.

Take me out to the ballgame...

Trey has decided that he wants to play baseball this year. Here are some pictures from our "practice". Trey was actually pretty good at hitting the ball once he actually took some direction from good ole Dad! However, not so good at pitching! And of course Jesse had to join in on the fun.

Jesse Pitching

Trey Hitting
(check out the look on his face) Running the Bases Trey's Pitching
(a little off)

Scooby Dooby Doo!!!

We attended a Scooby Doo birthday party this past weekend. Scooby Doo is one of Trey's fave characters. He plans to dress up as Scooby Doo for Halloween and he wants a Scooby Doo themed party for his next birthday (at least that's his plans this week!) Trey also knows Scooby is real "because we've bought Scooby snacks at the store (little bone shaped graham crackers) and if Scooby snacks are real then Scooby must be real"! Anyway, I got a laugh with these Scooby masks and wanted to share.

On It's Way

I hope that I am not breaking any laws here, and if I am I beg forgiveness in advance.
I recently began receiving a daily devotional via email. The one on Tuesday spoke volumes to me and even had me in tears. I have reread it many times a day and tonight God laid it on my heart to share with all of you. I pray that it blesses you as it has blessed me.

On Its Way – Part 1
Whitney Capps

“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.” Exodus 2:23-25 (NASB)
Devotion:
In today’s key verse in Exodus, we’re given an update of the state of affairs in Egypt. Clearly, God’s people needed deliverance and provision. When I read this passage, what stands out to me isn’t the people’s situation but the number of times God is called “God.”

Read it out loud and see if it hits you too. In everyday conversation we don’t tend to repeat the name of the subject over and over in subsequent sentences. We say it once and then use pronouns like “He.” However, God is referenced by name 5 times in 2 sentences in this passage. Awkward? Maybe. Significant? Monumentally.

I think the purpose is to make it clear to us that God is the one in charge of all that is about to transpire. God will hear their cries, remember their situation, and look upon them with concern. Then God will initiate the activity that will set the captives free, bringing glory to His name.

The Israelites were crying out to God for help in their slavery, but had no way of knowing that their gracious God was already at work, calling Moses to be His mouthpiece and their deliverer from Egypt. God had heard their cries, but it would be some measure of time before they were aware that He had answered their prayers.

Patience is required for those who seek the face of God. He has the answer in hand before we even voice our need, but it may take some time to manifest. You’ll find many examples of this in Scripture, but can I offer you a more contemporary example?

Most of my earliest memories are set in Fort Worth, Texas where we lived while my dad attended Southwestern Seminary. I remember little of the hardships my parents and grandparents talk about. My Granny still cries every time she describes what those years were like for her young son and daughter-in-law, so poor and so far from home. My mom, though a degreed teacher, stayed at home with me. My dad went to school full-time and worked as much as his demanding study schedule would allow. These were lean times financially.

At one point during our stint in Fort Worth, our car was stolen from the apartment complex where we lived. Mom tells me that while we had insurance, we didn’t have the money to pay the $100 deductible. While my parents tried to figure out how to make the ends meet, the mail arrived that day with a letter from my dad’s childhood Sunday school teacher. The letter explained that God had laid our family on his heart a few days prior, and God had told him to send us some money. In fact, God had told him to send us $100.00!

So a letter left Georgia nearly a full day before our car was stolen and two days before we were aware of our desperate need for $100.00. Even before my sweet parents’ prayers had reached the throne room of heaven, our great God had provision on its way. Remarkable? Certainly. Significant? Monumentally!

God knew what His covenant people enslaved in Egypt needed in 1400 B.C. He knew what a poor seminary family in Fort Worth, Texas needed in 1979. And dear sister, He knows what you need today right this very minute. He knows what we need because He knows all the cares of our heart. He is intimately aware of all that happens to us, because it all comes through His hand purposed for His glory and for our good.

Dear Lord, remind me even in moments of desperation and fear that You are in control. Help me fight the temptation to worry or doubt your provision. Grant me the peace to accept Your will as your promise to protect and provide for me and my family. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Intimacy with God: Your Daily Guide to Prayer by Tara Furman

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Visit Whitney Capps’s blog

Application Steps:
Track your prayers in a prayer journal so that future generations can see how God’s faithfulness is at work in your life.

Reflections:
What are you anxiously praying for right now?

Can you resolve to set your heart at peace knowing that God’s best answer may already be on its way?

Power Verses:
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Whitney Capps. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
http://www.proverbs31.org/

Our Trip to the Optometrist

Trey has been telling me that his "vision is not as clear as it used to be". So today we went for his first eye exam. Thankfully, his eyes are healthy and there is no need for glasses at this time. Trey was very brave and completed all the tests with flying colors.
Jesse went with us, and each time Trey completed a test Jesse piped in that it was his turn. "My turn, my turn" is fast becoming his favorite phrase and he has to do everything that Trey does.

Trey had his eyes dilated so he got a pair of the cool sunglasses to wear home, and of course Jesse had to have a pair too!

Trey Starts First Grade!!!

Today was Trey's first day of FIRST GRADE! I can NOT believe that my baby is old enough to be going to FIRST GRADE! Where has the time gone??? Trey is very excited to be back at school and was up before the sun this morning getting ready.

Sitting in my desk at Open House on Thusday.
I was very excited to see my friends again.

Trey and Mrs. Deen

Ready to go!


Thanks Aunt Janie (& Uncle Cory, Cora Jane, Vera Kate, and Whit)
for my cool new dino backpack and lunchbox!

Just Like Daddy

The "Scoop"

The boys got a special treat today...they got visit Daddy at work and play on "Scoop". They both got to move all the levers and swing the buckets up and down and around. Mama had to stay waaaayyyy back to take pictures!