GO TIGERS!

Abby Anne and Daddy ready for the game!

We recently made our first trip as a family of 5 to Arkadelphia...or as Abby Anne likes to call it OUACHITA for homecoming. Stephen and I did a pretty good job of juggling the babies. I got to go to the alumni EEE tea that morning and a baby shower for a friend while he kept the babies at Mom and Dad's. Then, he and Abby Anne went to the football game while I stayed home. That night, Abby Anne and I went to Tiger Tunes while Stephen once again kept the babies. All in all in was a good weekend. (Despite the fact that the tigers lost!) I am sure there will be many more trips to Arky...aka OUACHITA in the future with our family of 5!!!

Punkin' Patch with my Punkin'

My little punkin' pickin' her punkin'!

Mommy forcing a hug!

Aislynn and Abby Anne at the pumpkin patch!

On the hayride!

Abby Anne and I got to get out of the house to make a trip to the pumpkin patch with a group of girls from Sunday School. It was a beautiful day!!! Abby Anne and I picked our very own pumpkin off of the vine!! We also went on a hayride! I enjoyed spending time with (just) my punkin'. Next year I will have two other little punkins to take along!!!

Baby Dedication

Sunday, October 4th, we participated in Baby Dedication at church. This was Lizzy and Gideon's first trip to church. We didn't stay-because they are only 3 weeks old- obviously not ready for the nursery! But we wanted to go ahead and get them dedicated!! I have thought about what "baby dedication" really is and really means. We walk in, show our beautiful babies off, say a prayer, and walk out. But the significance is so much more than that. Stephen and I, as parents, have dedicated our precious little ones to the Lord!! WOW! It sounds so easy-but I have put a lot of thought into the whole process. I think back to the story of Hannah in the bible; how she prayed and longed for a baby boy. The Lord blessed her...in HIS timing, and gave her a baby boy-Samuel. She vowed to the Lord that in return, she would dedicate Samuel to him...give Samuel back to the Lord...literally. She vowed as soon as Samuel was weaned, she would take him to the temple and give him to the Lord forever!! Why this though leaves me amazed, I do not know. After all, my babies are FIRST children of God-before they are mine! I pray that I can be like Hannah. The Lord gave me these precious gifts in HIS timing...his perfect timing-just as He gave Hannah Samuel in His perfect timing. I pray I will in turn, give my beautiful Lizzy and my precious Gideon back to Jesus...for Him to use, love, and take care of! As a Mommy-it is so hard to fathom the idea of letting go of your babies for someone else to care for...but as MY mom has told me time and time again- there is no safer and better place for those babies (or anyone) than in the center of God's will!

"Dear Jesus, thank you for my precious miracles: Gideon and Lizzy. Love overflows my heart in a way only you know!! Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to be Gideon's mommy, Lizzy's mommy, and my sweet Abby Anne's mommy. Let me never take this precious gift for granted. Help me to love them and nurture them just as you would. Help me find peace and comfort and contentment in giving them fully over to you. Use my babies to do something great for you! Help this mommy be able to lead each one to you at a young age. Help them each to have a heart that loves you more than anything...I pray this for myself, too!! Use me, Lord, use my family!! Amen."