riley got baptized!

it's getting late and i am getting up bright and early to go on our mission trip to haiti! today was a very full day in every way, but the highlight was riley getting baptized! he was SOOO excited about it! he kept asking me all morning to pray for him. so i would stop right there and pray every time. we went into the study to get him dressed, and his face lit up and he said "i can't believe thith!" (those of you who really know him can appreciate the "thith" part. it is just so cute!) anyways, he was the sweetest little thing ever, and i feel so incredibly overwhelmed with amazement at where God has brought me and our family. i just feel...full. i have a husband who is an incredible man of vision, and wants to serve the Lord entirely. i have 2 beautiful boys who have both been saved and baptized. does life get any better? you can check out his precious little baptism at www.eppingbible.org
it should be up in the next day or two!
i will be gone for the week, but i will fill everyone in on the details of the trip when i get back! please pray for safety, and for strength...especially for the boys. that they would stay healthy and safe. can't wait to see what God will do this week!! love to you all! xoxo

excuse me

excuse me while i get a little carried away, but this is so fun to play with pictures like this!!!

God is amazing

today we did our family devotions on the passage in I Corinthians how it talks about us being new creations in Christ. it compared it to a butterfly and said that we should find a picture of a butterfly to remind us of that. i was walking down the stairs, and looked out into the flower garden and saw this beautiful butterfly. i know God did that just for us. isn't He amazing???

a little sentimental

so i have a little journal that has "tranquil thoughts of a mother" on the front cover. every once in a while i write it in, but not very often. i started it about 4 years ago. i mostly love to just pick it up every once in a while and read from the beginning to remind myself of things that i loved about the boys growing up. i can't help but smile when i remember the cute faces, and funny comments they have made over the years. i am amazed that i have a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old. i don't know how time goes by so fast, or why. funny how when you are right in the middle of changing diapers and wiping noses, fast is the last word that comes to mind! but tonight, i am just remembering to be thankful. today was a fun day with the boys, and as we played a game before bed, the boys were getting really giggly. it is so contagious!!! so i made them come downstairs with me and hold this ginormous sunflower my mom had gotten for her birthday and pose :) they were laughing so hard, and i just loved it. sometimes it's good to just forget about everything and LAUGH!! it has been really hectic the last week or so, trying to get all the final details together before we leave for haiti on monday morning. it was really refreshing to just laugh and enjoy! hope you like the pictures!

a few more pictures

i should also mention that ronnie and bobbi got the boys their boogie boards! thank you!!!

rye beach

i love rye beach...not just because that is my son's name :) today was a super hot day, so i packed some lunch and snacks and me and the boys hit the road for the beach. i love rye, because i can just park on the side of the road, walk a little ways, and we are at the beach! no cost involved, just the fresh air, and the beautiful water. the boys loved their boogie boards, and they had such a great time! there is nothing cuter than 2 cute little boys running towards the waves with their boards. i found myself just smiling as i watched them, and was reminded of how blessed i am. they were in the water forever, and aj had blue lips by the time we were done, but they just didn't want to get out! they were so cute to watch, and sometimes they would totally wipe out, and then just get up and do it again. i loved it. we had a great day together, and i can't wait to do it again!

i have a great husband

i am really thankful for the husband that God gave me. he is such a great dad, and loves playing with the boys. they all enjoyed a little tackle football the other night, and then we all came in for popcorn and a movie. we watched veggie tales "Gideon", which is actually a very encouraging and challanging movie! anyways, still enjoying my camera and love capturing a little family fun! :)

just practicing

not nearly there, but just a little thing i am trying. i am not done with this one yet, but it's fun to practice!

cute feet

i love my little boys feet. i still love to kiss them...i wonder what age they will be before that really grosses me out! :)

no words needed

another picture

this may start to get old...but it is so fun!! i don't love the quality of this picture...it was wicked hot and sunny, and i took the picture fast. (the boys are so patient with me!!) but i love the effect. i will use this more later!

my new camera

so i finally got my new camera!! YAY!!! i am so excited, and am becoming a little obnoxious with it, i have to admit. i just love photography so much, and i am starting to pursue ways to become better at it, and also ways to use it as a blessing for others. i know that professional photographers can charge so much money, and i would like to be able to help some people get some nice pictures without the expense! i am just starting with the camera, and the software i have, but i love it so far! here are a couple of my newest ones! keep in mind, they were literally taken about 3 hours after i got the camera!!