Prayer Time

I have been struggling with getting adequate time alone with God lately. I get in my Bible reading, but finding true quiet time to really talk to God has been difficult. I found myself the day after something important happened that I was suppose to pray about, saying, "Oh, I forgot." So, those of you who know me know that I am a list person...I decided to try a new system. I listed all the things that I wanted or needed to pray about that were not immediate, daily requests...you know, the things you want to remember, but take the back burner to the things in front of your face, like your sick kids! I numbered each item and made a scale at the bottom of the list for each day of the week. Then I divided the numbers up equally between the days. Each morning, I glance at my list and find the item number I am to pray for, then throughout the day, even if I don't get to stop and have true quiet time, I mention those request to God. I keep those requests on my mind all day. That way, I am getting prayer time for all the needs. Some days are better than others, but this is my second week to try it and it is working for me so far! I know some of you make think I am crazy, but maybe you should try something different in your prayer time, too. I have also tried writing letters to God. This way, my mind doesn't wander into all of the areas of things I need to do and I can truly talk to God!

Sleepless in Samantha!

Here we go again! Evan has been the best of the three as far as sleeping, until recently. I decided when he was born that I would train him to stay in his babybed, and at night and naps, when he gets sleepy, he finds pacy and green frog and nudges us toward his room. I turn the mobile on, say nite, nite, and he drifts off to sleep! WOW! I know...amazing! (that happens, MOST of the time, not all). BUT, the last 2-3 months have progressively gotten worse. He still goes to bed fine, but wakes up all hours of the night. I feel like it is his ears, but it is beginning to wear on me and my lack of sleep. Night before last, the entire family was wide awake at 3:30 a.m., and last night wasn't much better. Please pray for Evan to get some sleep so that the rest of the house can sleep!

Major Updates - keep scrolling

I tried not to put lots of writing since it has been so long since I posted. Keep scrolling down to see what all has happened in our lives since Halloween! That is just SAD! I even left out several events that I didn't have pics of. Our church had a major Christmas play that required lots of building and decorating, but all went well. We have started Upward Basketball which has lots of work involved, but is going great. We have also started two services on Sunday A.M. to make more room for visitors. Since we began, our number have increased in Sunday school especially! The Lord has really blessed! Rick has met with an architect to talk about possilbly building new santctuary! Please pray that God's work will be accomplished as He sees fit! Hope you enjoy the updates.

Happy Birthday EVAN!

Evan celebrated his 1st birthday the Saturday after Christmas with Big Al! A few friends and family gathered and he had a blast! Crystal's Mom made all three kids the cutest Alabama outfits. They were adorable! Thanks Mrs. McDaniel! It was a fun day, but the stress of the holidays, then a birthday, then new year....don't know if I will do it that way again. Not sure how his birthdays will end up, but I had to have a separate 1st birthday! I can't believe he is growing up so fast!

4-Wheeler

My no asking on our part, NaNa and Pop thought it necessary to get the kids a small 4-wheeler for Christmas. They LOVED IT! We all met on Christmas day at the Ag bldg in Kennedy and all the kids brought their 4-wheelers to ride. I thought Aiden would be afraid of it, but he wasn't. He did really good with Allee on it, but when cousin DJ (who is the coolest according to Aiden) got on for a ride, Aiden went a little too fast in his turn and off they went. So he wrecked in the first few hours of having it. I thought NaNa T would have a heartattack, but everyone was okay. Aiden had a skinned up leg, but got right back on. It will be a long while before I trust him with Evan (like 3 years), or before we let the throttle back out, but we have really enjoyed it. Mommy even takes a ride. Thanks NaNa and Pop!

P.S. They have a real helmet now! No Worries!

Meet Addison

Aiden and Addison had some fun play time together at NaNa BooBoo's over the holidays. She is my great-neice and the sweetest thing I have ever seen. She will turn one on Valentines day. She and her mommy will be moving away soon and we will really miss her. We love you Addy!

Long Time - Long Update EVAN milestones.

EVANS FIRST HAIRCUT - 9 Months old (October) A look to kill!
"Don't cut my ear MiMi!"The finished product - MiMi and Evan with his sucker prize!

Let's start at the beginning. So much has happened lately I will never catch up. Let me give some quick highlights. Evan pretty much stayed sick (him or Allee) since the last update and those of you with several small children know how tired you get lugging a whiny kid around on your side all day...so my night time post became nonexistent. Since I last blogged....

Evan has been walking since 9 months old. He know has 8 teeth and 2 more on the way. He got his first hair cut, his first ear infection, his first hand spat, his first birthday and his first 4 - wheeler. (more later). He is talking (or jabbering) up a storm. He says bootball (football), baball (basketball), Yaden (aiden), and lots of other typical words...byebye, bitebite, cup, nitenite...etc. He was off his bottle but hates milk, so that has been a challenge. But, at age one, the age around my house where sleeping kids stop sleeping, we have hit a bump in the road. He has been going to bed on his own, no crying, no rocking, no bottle...but suddenly, we have started waking in the middle of the night, sometimes multiple times, and the only way to get him back to sleep is warm milk in a bottle. I know! Terrible Mother! But I am desperate. We are going on a month of this horrible sleeping habit. NaNa T called to rescue us today. All three are going to sleep over tonight and give us a small break. THANKS! I know it is prob ears or teeth...some sort of pain, but it is still miserable for all involved. Prayers would be greatly appreciated! (I think I have written this same story with Allee...lol).