We have some friends in the Denver area that have a tradition of rotating photos for their Christmas card. One year, it’s only the kids…the next, it’s kids and parents. I liked that idea but the way it’s shaking out around these parts, it’s just easier to photograph the kids and call it cute. That’s REALLY who people want to see anyway, isn’t it?!
Taking photos of a baby isn’t my strong suit and for a smiley little thing, she didn’t have too many smiles to give this day.
Wryder leaves a lot to be desired in the listen-and-obey department and was more interested in exploring the front yard than focusing on smiling or taking photos.
Thankfully, we have Sawyer who posed her way through 20+ shots to make my job a tick easier. 🙂
I’ve been in love with gold glitter…well, for forever…but I’ve used it a lot lately and our Christmas card was no different.
Version 1Version 2
See? Don’t ya love the gold confetti glitter, too?!
I was thankful that I did end up with some good individual shots of each of my cuties…
Good gravy, she’s beautiful…Girl’s got it down…Handsome manMost typical…Those toes…My other little beauty…My girls!Wheeeee!
My favorite (not in-the-moment favorite…but after-the-fact favorite) is the “blooper reel” that always has a way of manifesting itself. Take a peak…
Yes, that’s a cat…AGAIN this year…And of course there’s one with Wryder crying…And an awkward face or two…The nose picking is new this year…Thankfully, dad came to the rescue…but Sawyer’s still posing!
Seriously, even the bad/frustrating/didn’t-go-like-I-planned moments are GREAT moments. Thankful for this life…
A dear (and beautiful) friend checked in on me yesterday. She had noticed my lack of blogging and wanted to make sure all was well in Phippsville. Indeed, it is. We’ve just been in a season of feeling like we were just keeping our heads above water with all we’ve had going on. It’s been GOOD stuff, just lots of it!
Today’s blog is an attempt to catch you up on the past 6 weeks of our life…most likely in no particular order because oh, my brain….
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Sayble turned 7 months old and went in for her 6 month old check up. *ahem* (Re-read the first paragraph…we’ve been a little busy). She weighed in at 19 pounds and was 29 inches long! She was terribly fussy yesterday – not usually her style – and lo and behold there was a sharp little nugget of a tooth pushing it’s way up!
Cute as a button…and bald as a cue ball!
She started eating baby food and LOVES it. Kid is eating about 16 ounces a day and would eat more if I’d let her. She’s still just as sweet and smiley and bald as ever. It’s gonna grow. Really it will. Soon, sweetie…soon.
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We got new carpet! YAY! That’s what happens when your adorable 6 month old starts the barrel-rolling/crawling phase and she’s wrapped around daddy’s finger and he thinks the old carpet that was here when we moved in needs to go. Hey, whatever it takes! 😉
It. Is. So. Soft.
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One of Wrex’s dreams came true and he got a pony…with a cart. His name is Ernie and he’s about as wide as he is tall. He’s 12 years old and is actually quite broke and talented. The kids ADORE him and they can’t wait to ride him in a local parade. Keep your eyes out for us!
Ernie and crewTaking Wryder for a ride
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I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for one of the sweetest girls I know! She is expecting a baby girl named Mesa Rae (isn’t that gorgeous?!) in January so we showered her with lots of love and gifts and (soup and cupcakes)! It was a fun afternoon of celebrating mommy and baby to be. There’s just something about a first-born girl…
Ali and CliffGifts!The guest bookCenterpiecesAdvice for momma
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Sawyer has been DYING to have a Barbie Pop-Up Camper. I mean, they are pretty cool. I had the Barbie RV AND the Barbie Dream House when I was growing up so I get where she’s coming from. 😉
Wrex and I had pretty much finished her Christmas shopping and had gone back and forth on whether to take something we’d already gotten for her back to get this but that just didn’t set well with us. She has a dollhouse that she plays with and we felt like the Pop-Up Camper would be similar and that she’d enjoy some of the other things we had already purchased a little better.
Pop-Up Camper was ALL we had heard about for quite a while and we just asked the Lord for wisdom on what to do. She doesn’t have to have EVERYTHING she wants…this is the just the first thing she’s ever REALLY asked for by name. People always ask her what she wants for Christmas or her birthday and she has no clue, so this was definitely different…we just didn’t know how to navigate it. He answered.
She woke up last week and said she had an idea for us. She wanted to know if she could cash in her piggy bank and then do chores to work and earn money to pay for the rest; we were definitely behind this plan!
The chore chart
Girl had $64 in her bank! Thanks, sale barn buddies! We created a chore chart and she’s been working outside and moving chickens and picking up trash and doing laundry and dishes to beat the band! We saw it in Wal-Mart today and that added to the excitement. I’m so proud of her for having a goal and working for it! That will serve you well, sweet pea…
Checkin’ it out…
She did say she wasn’t going to buy it until AFTER Santa came because if he wanted to buy her one, she’d save her money for something else. She’s a smart one, that one…
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Speaking of Santa, we went and saw him Monday evening in town. He left a little to be desired in the santa looks department (no offense, sir!) and Sawyer was a little skeptical. She told us afterwards, “He doesn’t talk like the santa we saw last year. I’m pretty sure one of this is just some guy dressed up as santa…” She’s a smart one, that one…
Skeptical about SantaReady to watch the paradeSayble snuggling daddyShopping with Sayble. I’m sure this is safe, don’t worry…
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We met up with the Phipps side of the family for Thanksgiving and the three youngest cousins got to meet each other for the first time! These cuties were all born within about a month of each other. We took somewhere between 50 and 100 pictures and I’m thinking this is one of the best ones we got! Three babies plus a house full of people trying to get them all to smile equal chaos…
Sawyer sold her first show heifer this past month with some help of daddy and her good friend John Tucker. She got her check in the mail and opened her first checking/livestock account this past week. My baby is growing up, it seems.
She picked out checks with horses on them and is so generous, she wanted Wryder’s name on them, too.
Signing her paperwork with our sweet friend, KatieSawyer and Corn Cob
Even cooler than the checking account, she tithed off of her income to a ministry our church runs and supports called CARE Uganda. I helped host a fundraiser for them this fall and she’s as bought in as the rest of our family is. So proud of my girl…
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In the midst of all of the busyness, we have had so much to be thankful for. We have entered this Christmas season at a slower pace and a purposeful turning of our hearts towards Jesus. We’ve spent our mornings with our hearts and noses in our advent readings and have worshiped through song before bed every night. He is so worthy of it, friends…
We don’t get to watch a ton of TV around these parts, but when we do, the kids’ FAVORITE show is Paw Patrol. (It’s actually quite cute…and they don’t talk ugly to each other or whine…and the boy’s name is Ryder!!)
We had never heard of it until we had Wryder and someone at the clinic asked us if we named him after the Ryder on Paw Patrol. We looked it up, Wrex and I checked it out and the rest is history!
I’m a sucker for a good, homemade costume so for $28, all five of us were, indeed, the Paw Patrol! Wrex sewed the vests (come on, you know I can’t sew!!) and I made all the ears and hat details and collars… They looked ADORABLE!
Skye…who tried so hard to eat that badgeChaseRockyMarshallThe whole crew!And with their tongues out!
We carbo-loaded with some spooky spaghetti! (I dyed the noodles with icing dye!)…
Spooooky
We went trick-or-treating downtown on Friday and then we met our sweet neighbors in town and took Wrex out for his first time trick-or-treating EVER (the kids’, too). They had a ball!
Double fisting it!
We came home, ate some candy (duh!), a few other fun snacks and had our annual camp in!
Boo-berriesBooger ballsWitch’s brooms (cheese sticks and pretzels)A little something to offset all the sweets…
The kids got to go to the pumpkin patch earlier in the week with the Christian school group in Grant. They had a BALL there, too!
Gosh, she’s gorgeous!
With all of that partying, everyone was a little under the weather and VERY tired come Sunday. No thanks to the time change, mind you…
We’re still adapting around here. The 6:10 bedtime we’ll have tonight will be fun…the 6:40 (most likely) wake up call from upstairs in the morning? Not so much…
We traveled to Nebraska yesterday to visit Wrex’s paternal grandparents, or Grandad and Lalice if you ask the kids.
So excited!
We met Grandma at Perkins for brunch then headed on behind her to see Grandad. He hasn’t felt too spiffy the last month or two and that’s sure hard to see but it was good to be with family.
Wryder Douglas is named after Willard Douglas (Grandad) and William Douglas (Papa) AND he’s the elder WD’s first great grandson…in other words, he can do no wrong. 🙂
WD and WDSpecial bondI love this oneSweetiesSnuggling Aunt Deb
We grabbed some Burger King to eat on the way home and the kids had to get a crown (so cute!) and make silly faces and do silly things – you know, kid stuff!
Silly facesWhere’d they go??
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We got a new kitty last week, appropriately named Kitty. She’s a sweet little thing and the kids adore her. She’s gotten a little attention since she’s been here…
Kitty tucked in bed
Sawyer used a dollar she got in the mail and bought Kitty a toy, which she loves!
Yes, that’s a shirt…
Kitty has even made nice with Booey…
How sweet…
And the cat scratch/bed/stand? Well, I should’ve known WD would use it more than the cat….
Boys will be boys
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We’ve worn lots of cute clothes this week…
Cuties
and painted pumpkins…
and made some Halloween pretties…
Sawyer and her bat
and dressed up in all sorts of costumes to practice trick-or-treating…
Oh. My.
They are ready!
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Sawyer’s reading is getting better everyday and she read to Sayble the other day…it was the sweetest.
Swoon
I love how much they love their little sister…
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Now, I’m just finishing up our Halloween costumes. They wanted to be the PAW Patrol this year so I’ve been getting my hot glue on…
I can’t WAIT to get everything done and them on them!!! And, of course, I’ll post pics. 🙂
My little family has had me grinning all day today. They’re pretty funny…or I’m tired…you can decide. 🙂
This morning, I had Wryder set the table for breakfast and he put the plates on like this…
Putting a plate THROUGH the slats in a chair is WAY more fun.
I serve everyone, sit down to eat and find he had given me this fork…
The serving fork. It’s huge. Made me feel good about myself. *ahem*
I started to send these pictures to Wrex and when I picked up my phone, this is what I saw…
It’s started already. Lord, help us.
Sayble woke up a little while later and I opened her jammies up to find this…
Daddy got creative at 6:00 this morning. 🙂
We went to town to run a few errands and grab some Subway. On the way home, I wanted to run the car through the car wash, much to the disdain of Wryder.
Poor kid is TERRIFIED of the car wash and cried and hid his eyes for a good 11 minutes. Wait, maybe that’s not funny…just a little ridiculous.
Oh, and a little throwback Thursday humor….
We were watching a little of the Bronco game, a cheerleader came on the screen and the following conversation ensued…
Sawyer (incredulously): WHO is THAT?
Wrex (while giving me the eye to turn the channel): Oh, just a cheerleader.
Sawyer: (equally incredulously in reference to her burgeoning boobage): WHY does she have her shirt like that?
Wrex (begging with his voice for no more questions to be asked): Oh, maybe she got hot.
A little while later, Sawyer was fiddlin’ with the buttons on Wrex’s shirt and then said, “Look, mom! Daddy’s a cheerleader!”
Sawyer turned FIVE a few weeks ago and she wanted to have a county fair birthday party…so we did! 🙂
She’s not very big into sweets but she really wanted to try cotton candy at the rodeo on July 4th. Turns out, she’s a fan! She REALLY wanted cotton candy at the party so that was the theme of our invitation.
Come one, come all…
When I think of the county fair, I immediately think of show animals and I knew Wrex had a few boxes of rosettes in the garage from his show days that I wanted to use. When I decorate for parties, I’m all about using and re-purposing things we already have so this was an easy way to add some purple pizzazz without spending any money.
For the backdrop, I had the idea to make paper rosettes with Sawyer’s name on them. I just happened to find the purple and white paper fans at Oriental Trading for $0.50 a piece and then cut scrapbook paper to make the ribbon tails. We printed letters for her name and added them to sparkly foam and voila! My favorite part of the party…
Wrex and his dad made these ‘lemonade stands” for me out of old pallets we had in the shop. We added a little paint and our rosette bunting and I absolutely loved how they looked…
Crazy can!
Ring toss!
We had a glitter tattoo booth, too! I made livestock and ribbon templates, bought some glitter tattoo glue and some glitter and fancied the kids up…I just didn’t get any pictures of any of that. Boo.
We HAD to have a cake walk – Sawyer’s favorite part of the party (besides her uncles, friends and cotton candy).
Walk it out…
Wrex found some scrap carpet at Menards and I painted the numbers and made some tiny cakes and the cake walk was born.
Sawyer’s other favorite birthday game is pin the tail on the donkey. We decided to pin the ribbon on the pig – totally fun to watch the kids fumble through this one! I found some farm animal clip art I liked and had them blown up and printed at Staples as an engineer print ($3!!) and we used the pig for the game and the other animals as decor…
The kids got prizes at every game station, so we made little bags so they could keep up with their treasures…
I got lucky and found a roll of purple and white gingham table covering that totally jazzed up our tablescapes. For centerpieces, I bought some purple buckets at the dollar store and planted some wheat seed the neighbors gave us. We watered and waited and two weeks later we plopped some purple animals in them and called it cute!
Uncle Waco ran the cotton candy machine, automatically making him the most popular guy at the party…but he probably would’ve been anyways…
Besides cotton candy, we had BBQ sandwiches, corn dogs, curly fries, corn on the cob, popcorn and pickles!
We opened some presents and just had an all around good time!
The birthday girl got sang to but opted out of eating her cupcake. 😉
At the end of the day, we thanked our guests with goldfish! Wrex thought real ones would be a cool, affordable parting gift but we opted for making goldfish soap so we didn’t upset any parents. 😉
We bought some plastic goldfish and some clear, glycerin soap. We melted the soap down, poured it into bags, added a cute little fishy and tied it up with a ribbon. These little guys were adorable, if I do say so myself.
All-in-all, it was my favorite party I’ve thrown. Maybe it was because I know the birthday girl had such a good time and felt so loved…that’s the point, right?
with her (our) sweet friend, Andrea…
Next up is Grandma Rusk’s 80th. It’s gonna be a ball!
Dusk is when I fell in love with our little place on the prairie and dusk here still takes my breath away. My flowers this year have been troopers and have over-performed despite the sub-par care they’ve received.
As we were out doing chores tonight, I just couldn’t help but make sure and snap a few pictures so I can look back come winter and remind myself that spring will come…
My hubby has toiled and toiled and whipped our grass into shape. When we first moved in, there was just a bunch of dirt and a LOT of weeds. We sodded the front yard last year and my hardworking hubby re-seeded the property this spring and has watered and sprayed and babied our poor yard. It’s been worth it.
My first born is officially FIVE! Five has always been a big birthday number for her. She made a list about a year or so ago of all the things she felt like she could do once she was five…use a knife to cut her food, climb a tree, go underwater, etc. (Now that one has been moved to when she’s 10. Darn that bad swimming lesson…)
She had a really fun birth-week (and we did, too!) She got to get a pedicure…
Sweet Sawyer
and have heart pancakes for breakfast…
She got sang to at the sale barn and someone gave her a dollar and her special friend Mr. Rod gave her some roller skates! She was THRILLED! She picked A&W for her birthday lunch (girl loves her some root beer floats) and then we headed home to open presents. But first, a little birthday park play…
And yes, she wore that silly little birthday crown all day. 🙂
That night, we surprised her with a birthday slumber party! She’s been dying for one of us to sleep in her room with her in her new trundle bed so that’s what we did…for part of the night anyways. Bum feet and babies make an all nighter a little hard but we did our best! She’s been telling people we stayed up “alllllllll night.” It was 9:00, but good enough for me!
We fixed each other’s hair and did each other’s makeup – daddy, too!
(Yes, he IS the best dad on the planet!) We played flashlight tag and restaurant, read stories and played with sister…it really was a fun night. One on one times with her have gotten fewer with the addition of our other little blessings so it was fun for us to be immersed in her world for a little while.
We spent the rest of the week finishing up the details for her official birthday party. Little Wryder has been all about trailers lately…
So when Wrexy loaded up our little fair booths on Thursday evening, Wryder pulled his little car over and was ready to go. It was the cutest thing….EVER.
She wanted a county fair so on Saturday, a county fair we had! Here’s a little sneak peak…more to come later! 🙂
She had a ball and our hearts were so full. THANK YOU to everyone who came and showered her with love… We are so thankful for our spiritual family who fill in the gaps…you all have our hearts.
Sunday, we had brunch and (not enough) great grandma/PaPa/RaRa/auntie/uncle/cousin play time.
The kids are still recuperating – heck, I am, too! – but it was worth every late night, paper cut and sore foot. She felt so loved…
We call you that all the time and that little name was dubbed you before you were even born. “Sweet Sawyer” was plastered all over your baby shower along with lots of real sweets, to boot. 🙂 It was if we already knew… May I just say you have fully lived up to and embraced that name.
Sweet Sawyer getting a pre-birthday pedicure
There is so much I could write about you on your birthday… I love your beautiful face and your keen eye for fashion… I love how girly you are and how you love to create outfits and change clothes, shoes and hair accessories 14 times a day… I love how you love being outside and coming in filthy after a hard day of building and digging and wrangling goats… I love how you plan parties and feasts and parades… I love how much you love people, even those that have done nothing to deserve the unconditional love you so freely share…
I have so many favorites about you but my favorite thing about you is your heart…
You have a heart for your siblings. The Lord chose you to be the first born; the big sister of the Phipps family. Daddy and I know it’s a hard job sometimes (we were firstborns, too!) but you do it oh-so well. The way you care for and protect and mother (and attempt to discipline) Wryder and Sayble is so sweet. They adore you and we couldn’t ask for a better role model and example for them to look up to.
You have a heart for obedience. Ever since you were just a tiny thing, daddy and I would set one rule and we never had to worry about you even testing that boundary. You spoiled us, kiddo. And tricked us into believing all children were that way. Not so. *ahem* You choose obedience daily and are quick to ask the Lord and us for forgiveness when you feel as if you’ve fallen short.
You have the heart of servant. This is one of my favorite things about you because it’s somewhat of a lost trait in today’s society. You are the first one to rush over and pick something up if it gets dropped or the first to rush in with a towel to clean up a spill (and we have a few of those around here). You never tire of helping with chores or cleaning your room or helping mom plan a party.
Monday night, we came home WAY past bedtime and Sayble was tired and hungry and my foot was killing me and you guys needed a snack and dad needed to run to the barn to put the cat away so you enthusiastically jumped right in and got fruit, cheese and milk for you and Bubba. That blessed me so much and you do that kind of stuff every. day.
You have the heart of a worshiper. The Lord showed me that before you were even a year old and boy is it true. There are no better days than when we just spend some time worshiping through song together. I love when you want to sing when I do your hair or when we all (attempt) to play instruments or when I hear you singing in the spirit in your room or in the car. It’s a joyful noise to His ears, no doubt.
You have a heart of generosity. You so freely share your things. I can’t count how many times you find out someone is coming over or it’s someone’s birthday and you rush up stairs and rifle through your trinket drawers and come down with something wrapped up to give them. You shower me with flowers (and a few weeds) and little notes and pictures all the time. I wouldn’t trade those for the world, you know…
🙂
And, fellow readers? If Sawyer ever bestows upon you a half-used chapstick or a too small bracelet or a chicken feather or a few coins…receive them and receive them with gusto! These are some of her most treasured possessions and she’s chosen to share them with YOU.
You have a heart that seeks Jesus. Daddy and I have been amazed at the spiritual maturity you possess for being so young. (We might be a wee bit jealous, too). You are constantly asking questions about how to hear from the Lord and how NOT to hear from satan and how to tell the difference. You are quick to share the gospel even when you get rejected. You love to “read” your Bible and you love our family devotion and prayer time. The zeal in which you seek Him is inspiring.
I think that’s what it boils down to, sweet Sawyer…you inspire me. You make me want to be a better mom and sister and friend……..you make me want to be more like you.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say that these five years have gone fast. Too fast. In a flash you’re five and my heart is bursting with pride regarding you. I’m so excited about these new stages and adventures we’re encountering…but I can’t help but think of all the ways I’ve failed you as a momma. I’m so far from perfect it’s revolting….but I sure do love you.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…if I knew every kid we’d have would be just like you, I’d have 10 more in a heartbeat. Sure would. Until then, I’ll continue to bless you and bless the day you were born!
I bless you with a continued life of obedience. It will serve you well in all walks of life but I pray that that obedience is always born out of a love for the Lord, not because of a set of rules. I pray that because you love Him you so much, your heart can’t bear to bend any other way than towards righteousness.
I bless you with Godly friends and relationships. You are so kind and so giving and so merciful and so forgiving and so loving and I pray all of that is given right back to you ten-fold. I pray that as you get older that the Lord would deliver you a good friend to walk this life with who will be just as invested in the relationship as you are.
I bless you with lots of opportunities to hear from the Lord. I pray that He would continually be in your ear and in your heart and that you would be attuned to listen and obey.
I bless you with a family who models what it means to love the Lord. We fall short so often, sweet girl, but you inspire us to constantly strive to do better and strengthen our relationships with Him as well.
I bless you with the calling of the Lord on your life…that you would hear it and know it from an early age and that you would stop at nothing to a live a life that is pleasing to him.
Sweet Sawyer, you are so special to us…irreplaceable….one of the biggest blessings we’ve ever been given. It’s an honor and a privilege to be your momma. Happy birthday, beautiful! Let’s party!
Today was one of those tough mom days where I didn’t really enjoy my job. Wryder is in a definite boundary testing phase…again. My apologies ahead of time to the wonderful sitter I have lined up for tomorrow. *ahem*
There just seemed to be an overload of disobedience and nasty tones (some of them mine, unfortunately)…unkind gestures and more housework than I could juggle. I just felt defeated come nap time.
We made it through the afternoon – praise the Lord for short sales and daddy’s who come home quick – and the evening ended decently well.
Sawyer is learning to read and doing a fantastic job! Our plan is to home school (for multiple reasons) and there are days when I wonder if that will ever work. Sawyer is an incredible student but we have a few little distractions running around…and I’ve never taught school before…and I don’t remember how to teach someone to read…and I’m not the most patient soul on the planet…and days like today, where it feels like we barely survive the normal daily activities, I wonder how I can add one more thing…and the thought of trying to teach Wryder to read…well…that’s just scary.
Some days I just wonder if I’m gonna be able to finish this mom thing and finish it well…
And then…Sawyer read new words she struggled with just this morning…and I came across a blog that was saying exactly what I was saying…and I learned of families fighting far bigger battles than ours…and my world got a little broader and my self-pity a little smaller.
I have no doubt that HE wants me to finish this mom thing and finish it well and thus He will encourage me and refresh me and renew me and strengthen me and grace me and give me the wisdom I need to do such a thing.
Bring it, Friday…
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The last two nights, Wrex and I have grabbed a blanket, killed the power to the mercury light and laid out on the trampoline to watch the meteor shower. The sky has been cloudless and our prairie view has allowed for an awesome window in which to watch.
I was thinking of how majestic the Lord truly is and how He blessed us through His creativity. I mean what if He chose not to make stars? What if the night sky was just black? What if instead of a blue sky during the day, He chose olive green instead? What if there were no such thing as animals or what if every human looked exactly the same? What if birds didn’t make sounds or what if food had no taste? What if…
His creation speaks of His wonder and goodness and glory…
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The other day, the kids had gone out to play and I had to change Sayble’s diaper before I went out with them. I got that done, grabbed my shoes and headed over towards the tree, right where they were playing when out of the corner of my eye, I saw an orange streak slither quickly in their direction.
It was a long, nasty garter snake and he was headed right towards them. I told them to move and then cornered him while Sawyer got me a shovel. (The only good snake is a dead snake around these parts)…
I chopped him up and threw him in the ditch…and then had the willies the rest of the day… But it was a good reminder of how the enemy is doing just that – heading for my kids. He’s on the prowl, folks. He’s real and he’s looking for someone to devour.
Pray for your kids! Cover them and intercede for them and demand satan to flee in the name of Jesus. You’ve got no authority here, you creep.
The snake. I know it doesn’t look that big, but it was. *ahem*Sawyer holding Sayble so I could do my thing…
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On a brighter note, I saw this the other day in Sterling…
Get your guns up!
It made me feel so at home. Only a few more days until the start of football season and I’m sure hoping for a mildly successful one to say the least. Now, to get Wrex agree to cable for the winter…
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I’m headed to a consult with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. I hurt my foot/ankle/leg back in February and it’s gotten increasingly worse. I’m sure they’ll want to do an MRI and all of that (expensive) jazz. If you would join me in prayer that it could be healed without surgery, I’d much appreciate it.
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Praying your Friday is fun and that the presence of the Lord is thick with you this weekend. Praying that for me, too…
