My beautiful girls.....

I was going through some pics today of my older girls, and just wanted to post these couple of pics. I can not believe how much they have grown up even over the last year. Olivia, a junior and Caroline in 8th grade. Seems like it wasn't that long ago that we were approaching the "preteen" years and all of the stuff that goes along with it like hormones, growth spurts, junior misses sizes instead of kid's sizes, skin products, hair products, yes even feminine products (yes I said it) and boys, (not too much yet, thank goodness). The biggest and most important growth however that has been such a joy to watch bloom has been their spiritual walk with the Lord and what He continues to teach them and show them as they mature into these amazing and beautiful young ladies. The biggest things the Lord is teaching ME as I watch them grow,  are to love, teach and model, but then to open my hands to Him that made them and saved them, and trust that HE will teach them to fly with the wings He has given them! And to keep praying for the Holy Spirit to guide and protect them on this journey of being a Christ following teenager in a sometimes hard and crazy world! I love my girls and I am so proud of them!

Olivia, and her dear friends Maddie and Emily

Movie stars!!

Last year's homecoming

Sisterly love!

The girls with their cousin Kasey

One of my favorite pics!

Oh Baby, Baby, Baby!!!

Another one of my favorite pics!

Pretty girls!

Oliva , Caroline and their sweet friend Emily

Olivia, Caroline and family friend, Allison at her wedding shower

Forest Park!

We had an adventure this past Friday. Mark spent the day golfing with some friends, so I decided to take all of the kids to the zoo. As soon as we turned off at the exit for the zoo, I realized that this was probably the busiest day of the entire summer for the zoo and Forest Park and how wrong I was at thinking that no one would be there! We parked all the way down by the history museum because all of the streets and lots were full by the zoo. We ended up going to the history museum- which only lasted about 45 minutes because the little ones were very bored. We then decided to walk to the zoo from there. It was the most beautiful day of the summer I think- only about 79 degrees with big puffy "Toy Story" like clouds in the sky. The fountains in the park were so pretty and made for a great photo-op!! Hannah did some impromptu praising while there at the fountains! So precious! Then we made it to the zoo and saw the much awaited new sea lion habitat. Everyone had a different part of the day that was their favorite- Nathan's of course was riding the train! I think mine was the walk and just taking in the beautiful day that the Lord had blessed us with, and seeing the kids take joy in the amazing day that He had created!!
By about 2:30 we were all getting tired, so we headed out on our walk back to the history museum. I don't usually go out on these types of trips without Mark to help me with all of the kids, but Olivia and Caroline were such a big help in keeping track of everyone at the zoo!! I feel pretty good about navigating through Forest Park now too! It turned out to be a great and perfect day!

More pics from North Carolina....

What an amazing time we had with our families on our annual trip to the beach. My parents got to come down the first week and stay for the first time ever.  They loved the beach and made some great memories with the kids. It was really fun to see my mom and dad playing in the waves for the first time. They were like kids themselves! The second week Mark's parents, brother and kids came down and we had some of the calmest days with the ocean that I can ever remember since we have been going there. We also got to see some awesome storms roll in over the water. Wow! God gave us a show with some powerful wind and lightening that blew through while we were down on the beach. We are so blessed to be able to go there with our families every year. It feels really good to be back home now and get back into a regular routine again with the kids. I love being away with family, but there's no place like home!!!