May is rushing by...

It has been THREE weeks since my last post & the time has flown by! They say "time flies when you're having fun" and I guess it is so true!! Some days are more fun than others but I am trying to enjoy the moments. At the beginning of the month, David & I were able to get away by ourselves for the night & so went to a B & B in Jefferson, Tx. It was a nice getaway & we enjoyed relaxing, sleeping & spending some much needed quiet time together! We ate dinner at the Stillwater Inn which was so good & stayed at The Hale House B & B & it was good too.

Shopping In Downtown Jefferson. One thing that is making our lives so busy right now is Jade is playing softball & David is helping coach her team. It is a lot of fun but with two to three games per week, I feel like I am running a chauffeur service nonstop! David loves the coaching & is enjoying every minute of it & Jade, who has never been in any sports, is showing her natural talent & is doing so great!! I know that a lot of other people have multiple kids in many activities but since last year at this time it was just David & I & now we have a totally different lifestyle, I think it is a more drastic change to get used to. We are making it though!!

Jade & her favorite coach! Her biggest fans!
My brother Casey & his wife, Sarah & their sweet baby Kailey came in town for Mother's Day & we enjoyed getting to spend time with them! Caden & Kailey are getting to the age where they are starting to have more fun together & I think that they are going to have a lot of fun playing together pretty soon!
Aren't they sweet?? Casey & Sarah announced to everyone on Mother's Day that they were expecting #2 & just today we found out they had lost the baby. I know that this must be such a hard time so PLEASE lift them up in your prayers! I have not had to ever experience the heartbreak of a miscarriage but I know the empty feeling of wanting a child so badly & not fully understanding God's plans for me in that area. As I got the awesome opportunity to celebrate my FIRST Mother's Day this year, I can't help but think of the many years that the day brought sadness to me as I waited for God's plans to be revealed. I couldn't have asked for anything more as I see the beautiful smile on my sweet baby's face. I continue to pray for all "moms" in waiting as I know the wait is sometimes long & hard & I pray that God would reveal His plans that He has for you soon! I also think of our birth mom on this day & thank her for her unselfish decision. She recently told us that there were 3 girls in front of her in line at the abortion clinic & they were getting ready to start her IV when she changed her mind. Thank GOD she changed her mind, that God intervened because Our life would not be the same without our beautiful, sweet Caden! I pray that God will keep changing minds & protect those unborn babies! On a happier note, David did such a great job on Mother's Day & got me a dozen roses, a massage & had a sweet DVD made of Caden's life up to this point. It is such a keepsake! I am also so blessed & thankful for MY mother! Although, we have not always seen eye to eye- she is a loving & giving Mom & I am happy to be living so close to her again! Isn't He Adorable?? Finally, I am so blessed to be a part of a wonderful Sunday School Class at Broadmoor Baptist! It is such a great group of prayer warriors, encouragers, and friends!! The girls got together for a Girl's Night Out last week & we had a blast! We had dinner at Macaroni Grill & then went back to Mandi's for massages, pedicures, her grandma's "Better than sex cake" and girl talk! It was so fun!! My mom came over this past weekend & we got some great deals at garage sales!! This is my favorite Saturday pastime & this past Saturday did not disappoint! I will post more on that soon! Hope everyone has a great week!

Reality

Ok- I want to be real in this blogging adventure & so far all of my post have been about our fun adventures & trips and that is an important part of my life but it is not everyday life. Life can't always be wonderful & fun. I think God wants us to seek joy in everyday things & he blesses us with daily joy. But...sometimes God allows us to go go through things to grow & learn & to mold us into better people. David & I went through 5 years of infertility before blessing us with our sweet Caden & those years were hard & sometimes lonely but I think it brought us closer & taught us to lean on Him and on each other. Caden brings us so much joy...but there are still days that I long to experience pregnancy & I constantly pray that in God's timing & in whatever way he chooses, that we are blessed with another baby. Our life is hectic these days with taking care of my grandmother who has dementia, keeping up with a fast crawling almost 9 month old & running to carpool, gymnastics & softball with Caden's 7 year old sister, Jade- but we are molding lives & this is the plan God has for us right now. I worry every day about Jade & what the future holds for her & I need prayers so that I won't worry so much. I know that worry is the absence of faith but I am a worrier & this is a daily struggle. Also, I know that even though I am so busy right now, I need to do better abut making time for God everyday & making time to develop friendships. So many times in today's society, people tend to put on their happy faces & pretend everything is wonderful & not share their vulnarability. I don't want to do that. I want to be real. What do you worry about? How do you deal with it? I did have a great weekend scrapbooking Caden's baby album, relaxing & getting away. I hope everyone else had a good weekend too! I did not take the camera so no pictures this post.

Easter Weekend- Longest post ever with LOTS of Pics!!

Look at this sweet baby boy!! He loves his rocking chair!! This was right before we got on the road headed to Texas!

When we arrived at Grandmaw's, we were so excited to see everyone! This is Caden with Grandmaw Lala & cousin Jake.

At Grandmaw Lala's, both Caden AND Jade got to participate in dying Easter Eggs for the very first time!!! Caden had a little help from Mommy & Daddy!



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While in town, we met up with David's dad & he got to meet his grandson for the very first time! God is good! I think Caden won him over with his sweet smile.

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My brother & his wife, Sarah & cousin Kailey live nearby & we took the opportunity to spend time with both families. Caden loved seeing Kailey...but she was quick to tell him who was boss when he attempted to pull out her hair bow. Here she is giving him a kiss!Here is Caden with Aunt Sarah

We all went shopping & out to lunch at Mimi's Cafe. It was lots of fun!
On Easter morning, Caden loved exploring his Easter basket & reading his book about baby Jesus & the Easter story!

Caden got so spoiled for his first Easter! He got to see both grandaparents & got easter goodies from everyone! He got this big bunny from Grandmaw Lala & he loved it!

Here we are at Grandmaw Lala's on our Easter Egg Hunt!

Caden got lots of hugs from Aunt Lori & Uncle CJ & all his cousins!



Here is Granmaw Lala giving Caden his bunny!

On Sunday Morning we went to church at my brother, Casey's church in Temple. He is a youth pastor there & we really enjoyed the Easter service & getting to worship with Casey, Sarah, Gran & Papa!
All dressed up for church...





The whole gang!!!

After church, we had a delicious Easter lunch at Casey & Sarah's house & Caden got this cute bunny from Gran & Papa!

Lunch was followed by a fun Easter egg hunt with cousin Kailey.

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Here are our sweet friends K-Boy & Brandi. They were so sweet to let us stay with them & they got to "practice" baby time with the best baby ever! ____________________________________________________________________
Finally we were headed home! We couldn't pass up taking some pictures with the

Teaxs Bluebonnets! They remind me of Spring in Texas & we had fun taking pictures by the side of the road.

Easter Pictures

I just got these pictures back today & I love them! They are so sweet and the Azaleas were in full bloom & make these pictures even better! I am putting them all in a slideshow since there are so many....so tell me which ones you like best!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Spring Weekend in Louisiana

This was a wonderful Spring weekend here & we enjoyed every minute of this great weather! Saturday morning I got to do a little garage sale shopping (My favorite way to bargain shop) and found lots of great deals! I got this precious little wooden rocking chair for Caden for $ 4.00!! I might paint it to match the others on our porch...What do you think?

Saturday afternoon we had a picnic in the park & enjoyed some time just a swingin'!

Caden loves the swings!! We also saw the Easter Bunny at the park & stopped to take a picture with the bunny & Daddy!

We had dinner at my parents Saturday night & enjoyed a delicious dinner of my dad's famous BBQ Ribs & Shish-K-Bobs. So yummy & Caden loved being spoiled by his Gran & Poppa!


Sunday morning we were off to church & then our Sunday School class had an Easter Pot-Luck & Egg Hunt. It was a great time of fellowship & fun!


Caden thinks the bunny ears are hilarious!

I hope that everyone had a great weekend! I hope that this weather stays nice & warm for awhile! I love Spring! The flowers are blooming & everything is looking so green- I am glad that God gives us seasonal reminders of His Love! Happy Spring & I hope everyone had a Happy Palm Sunday & has a great Easter week ahead!
Also-many of you know that I am a consultant with Southern Living at Home. I am having a BIG sale right now on some great Spring products & am about to place an order if anyone is interested! Here is the link: http://www.southernlivingathome.com/pne/pdf/announcements/200904_SpringGiftSale.pdf

Let me know!!

https://www.southernlivingathome.com/kenyaspage

My Birthday weekend

This past Saturday was my birthday & I had a really great weekend!I got this sweet package in the mail from my brother, sister-in-law & sweet niece (check out her cute blog: http://lifewithkaileyrose.blogspot.com/ ) and can't wait to try out my new blissful bath products! They are so cute & smell so great!

On Friday evening I left with 7 other girls from my Sunday School class for a weekend trip to Dallas. We stayed at the Westin in the Galleria. To actually stay in a hotel inside the mall is a dangerous thing!! We had so much fun shopping & eating & doing girl stuff! It was an awesome weekend & a fun way to spend my birthday.

Friday night at Grand Lux Cafe

Saturday Night- Birthday Dinner!

We had so much fun at Kobe Steaks & everyone looked great since Lauren & Kathy

"the Lancome girls" gave everyone fab makeovers!

When I got home on Sunday afternoon I had a little birthday celebration with my family & David had a sweet surprise for me!! You know its going to be something good when you see one of these boxes! He gave me a beautiful necklace!! I am so proud of him for taking care of our 8 month old alone all weekend & holding down the fort until I returned!

I loved seeing this sweet face waiting on me as I walked in the door on Sunday afternoon!

Thanks to everyone for the Happy Birthday wishes! I had a great Birthday & have so much to be thankful for this year!