Birthdays gallore

This month has already been filled with many blessings.  July is the month for milestones...on the 6th my firstborn daughter turned 11,  all I can say is WOW!!  Then on the 8th my baby turned 6 months, where did the time go it seems like just yesterday that we were bringing her home in the middle of a snow storm.  Leah turned 6 on the 12th and will be starting kindergarten and learning how to read this coming school year...AMAZING.  Then last but not least on the 22nd my little man John Mark will be turning the big 4!!!!  I am amazed at how fast time goes when you have children...one minute they are these fragile little babies that depend on you for everything and then....BOOM,  they are sitting, crawling, walking, riding bike, riding four wheelers and dirt bikes...time is in fast forward.  Knowing this I STILL find myself putting off spending time with them for what...cleaning...am I CRAZY!!!!  I need to be reminded daily that my children are growing leaps and bounds and soon will be out spending the time they used to want to spend playing with me,  they will be with friends and want to be going here and there.  This is a sacred time in my childrens lives and I dont want to miss a thing!  I have to look at our heavenly Fathers priorities...does he say no I cant be with you right now because I am...(you fill in the blank)?  No He does not!!!  Most of the time it is me who is saying not now I dont have time to read the Bible right now and then say a meaningless prayer thinking that will make it all better.  What kind of crazy meds am I on.  I dont know if I am the only one who struggles with this...but my guess is I am not.  I need to make God my NUMBER 1 priority and then my children and family need to be next in line!!!  Then the other things will fall in place as they should.  I love my children immensely and I cant wait for the new things we will discover tomorrow and the next day and the day after that.  God, help me to prioritize to your ways so that I may not miss out on the daily blessings that you have for my family and me!!  AMEN

ANNA IS 11

Anna and Jingle Bell

Anna holding her baby sister Olivia She is an excellent big sister

Anna on the 4rth of July, we has a small party with just the family.

Anna getting ready to blow out her candles on her birthday cookie.

Anna with her birthday guest..a few of her "best friends"






Anna's birthday cake



Ok so Anna had her 11th birthday today...UNBELIEVABLE.  She has grown from this tiny little baby girl who just fit in the crook of my arm, into a crawling toddler who did not care what she wore and how much food she had on her face, to a kindergartner who only knew the letters of the alphabet, to a firstgrader who could read short stories and write, to a very good reader and has excellent hand writting, and now she is a young lady who makes sure her hair is combed and clothes are clean and helps cook and clean and just makes my life so much more worth living.  She is not perfect, but she is such a tenderhearted little girl who will stand up for the ones being picked on and is always the one who will see someone standing sideline in the church gym and goes over and makes certain that they are included.  She is my Anna and I am sooo proud of the young lady she is becoming.  I could not have asked for a better daughter and God has certainly blessed me with her.  I love you sweetheart and may you continue to follow your heavenly Father and grow in Him.