Hair-y Sweet Girl

Our Brenna Baby (who is getting way too close to 5 years old) made a very big girl decision today. On her own accord, she told her Aunt Bobby that she wanted to donate her ponytail.

I have to admit it makes me emotional to see those curls go...

 ...but the smile it put on her sweet face and the smile it will put on a child's face who receives her donated hair when they have lost their own...makes it very much worth it!

 It is hard to deny with those new big-girl looks and her selfless big-girl decision that she is indeed growing up too fast!

But oh, how proud we are of our big sweet girl!

Ribbon or no ribbon...

Check her out! 

All "A" Honor Roll for the 1st 6 Weeks

And check out the crazy photo bomber...she would be All A's, too, if Pre-K gave grades :)

 BUT.....

The ribbon is cool and all, but more importantly, we celebrate the girls behind that ribbon. We know the ribbon will not always come, no matter how hard we work for it. We want our girls to know that we are proud of them simply for trying their best, simply for being them. The Lord is showing me lately that these kids cannot be defined by test standards and school numbers. That ribbon will never tell you how precious her heart is and what a creative artist she is or that she smiles at everyone she sees and loves her family and friends big time. Will I still worry if they have trouble with math? Yes, but I refuse to lose sight of the fact that these little girls are wonderful, ribbon or no ribbon. And we will always be proud proud parents of Audrey and Brenna.

Love him...

"True love is spending one day getting married...and the rest of your life feeling glad you did."

32

I turn 32 tomorrow (yes, I had to check the math to make sure I hadn't forgotten a year). Here are a few things the Lord is telling me this weekend as I say goodbye to 31...

Quite frankly, I have been mentally overwhelmed, occupied, consumed, busy, obsessed for over two months now. This job change hasn't been extremely easy, but after 6 weeks of school under my belt, things are starting to look up and feel manageable. I have to credit friends and family, a helpful partner, some super awesome little friends at school, and these survival ingredients (thank you, Jessie): Jesus, chocolate, DP, and hand sanitizer!

I have struggled with TIME...there never seems to be enough. I can't get everything done at school, home, and church well enough in my mind and it drives me crazy. Then this weekend, the Lord has emphasized through cards, a funny movie, and a sermon that no, I am not enough...but He is. He has made me who I am...has trusted me with much... will enable me to be enough...to be just what my family needs, just what my school kids need, just what my friends need, just what I need.

And would you look how blessed I am....

(I don't know where they learned to pose, but they are my sweet angels, my greatest cheerleaders :)

 And then there's this guy...someone tall, dark, and handsome that tag-teams with me making lunches, making breakfast, making messes, making faces, and just making life happen. I couldn't make it without him.

I read in a book, "Life is brutiful." It can be brutal, and it is definitely beautiful--brutiful. And the Lord is always there, through the brutal and the beautiful. And we have to keep striving forward, through the brutal and the beautiful. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13-14

Here is a sweet prayer that was sent my way: "Lord, I have too much to do, but it's all important. Help me to set priorities so that I don't feel lost in the pace and the pressure. Give me wisdom and energy to accomplish what's necessary without wasting time or effort. And help me make the best use of my day, remembering that time is a precious gift from You."

I'm giving everything I have at 32..."and all I have in You in more than enough!"

We've got spirit, yes we do...

Comanche Indian spirit!

Black and Gold Fridays...

Homecoming with friends!

So excited to watch our girls grow up in the Comanche school system with Indian/Maiden Tribe pride.