Dress Dilemma

Even though my daughter is only 10 months old, I'm already getting pumped for her 1st birthday! I've already decided where & when it will be, and I've even thought about outfits for her. Since she's such a sweet little girl, I wanted a dress that's just as sweet!

I've had Lidl Dolly dresses on the brain big time! My sweet sis got one for Livia last year when she went to Gatlinburg, and I'm still in love. But just last night, I was out shopping with my Mom & Laura at JCPenny's - and I found another dress that is just absolutely adorable! And it just looks like a party dress! Take a gander...(The polka dots definitely remind me of her Auntie KeeKee)
Is it not the cutest little thing?!

And of coarse I got a matching sweater-jacket for it. Don't want Baby-Boo to get cold!

Here's a close-up of all the cute layers. You can even see the little matching undershorts-y things sticking out underneath.

And as SUPER cute as that polka dot dress is, I'm still contemplating getting the Dolly Dress too... I mean, Livia was just SO precious in the little dress that Laura Belle got for her last year - wait! I'll just have to prove it!
Liv was only 6 weeks old in this pic - seems like such a long time ago! She's grown SO much...

So, here's the one I'm thinking about getting now:
They come in several colors, but with Livia's blue eyes I thought this one would just be perfect!

With all the ruffles, lace, & bow it's just darling!

So, what does anyone think? Should I get the Lidl Dolly dress too? Or just use the Party Polka Dot dress? I'm completely torn! I love them both SO MUCH! Suggestions would be very appreciated :o) Love to all and God Bless!

Commercial Inspiration

There are a couple of songs that (for the moment) I'm absolutely in love with. So much, in fact, that they're the first 2 songs that play here on my blog. What's funny is not the songs themselves. Listen to them; I think they're wonderful. The funny part is where I originally heard these songs - in commercials.

The first song, "The Part Where You Let Go" is from Liberty Mutual (click to see the commercial & hear the song). It's an absolutely wonderful commercial... and it's the way I wish all the world would be. For those of you who don't care to see it, it's kinda'f a pay it forward type thing. Someone sees someone else do a kind deed for a perfect stranger, and they decide to do the same... and so on. No kidding, when I see this commercial I get tears in my eyes.

The other song, "Let it out" is from Kleenex (click to see & hear). Again, I tear up. But this time it's because a lot of other people are crying as well - this guy with a couch is just in the middle of a public area inviting peoplt to sit & talk. To let it all out.

Isn't it funny where I find inspiration? Tell me where YOU find inspiration! Maybe I'll find it there as well. :o) Love to all and God Bless!

Wordless Wednesday

Winter Meltdown

Already a Typical Girl

I snapped a few pictures of my daughter recently that made me think... kids are growing up WAY too fast these days!

She found her Daddy's wallet on the coffee table and instinctively knew what to do with it...

Open it up, and give her Daddy the big 'ole doe eyes!

Like, come on! How could he refuse such a sweet lil' face?

Oh... am I going to have my hands full! I'll have to keep one eye on her - and the other on him! Love to all and God Bless!

Happy Birthday Kendra!

I want to wish my sweet sis-in-law a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! OK, Kendra's Birthday was technically yesterday. What can I say! I've been a day late on quite a few of my posts lately!

I wish I had a new pic of her to post up here, but for now all the good snapshots that I have handy are already up on previous posts. And I know this is really short. Sorry Kendra! It doesn't mean I love you any less! I'm just too sleepy to even think straight right now.

Anyway, head over to Kendra's blog and give her some birthday wishin' love! Love to you all, and God Bless!

Blessed...And Baptized

I began this post late last night, but my sleepy eyes got the best of me. I could have hurried and wrote something quickly to go along with the pics I had uploaded ... However, I wanted to spend as much time as I could - on what I feel is THE biggest event thus far in my life.

I've gone to church ever since I can remember. My parents took me even as a baby, and they had me & my sister dedicated. They continued to take me as long as I lived with them. For that I'm so very grateful! I've continued to go even now as an adult. I've not always gone as faithfully as I should; there have been times when my faith itself wasn't all that strong. But now as an adult, I know how important God is in my life. Ever since my daughter was born, I've felt completely different about Him... I see how much He's done for me, and I'm just amazed! I truly don't deserve all I've been given.

Something I decided that I to do for Livia was to raise her up going to church as well. I take her to Mackey Church of the Nazarene just like my parents did for me when I was a little girl. I've known this Church and my Pastor my whole life. There are so many loving, caring people at my church - even though I didn't really even have a baby shower for Livia (what can I say - I was a crazy pregnant person!) SO many people got gifts for her. For several weeks after Livia was born, I came home with an armload of presents from my Church family.

I do not deserve all that God as blessed me with! Within the last few months especially, I've truly begun to realize how much God does for me. Perhaps it's that realization of how much HE blesses me, and that got me thinking that I should be doing more for HIM. I'm trying to be a better Christian as not only an influence, but in my life as well.

It was just very recently that realized how much of change I have made (and still am making) in my life. About a month or so ago in church, it hit me like a lightning bolt - to give a public testament to God of the change in my life & heart... by way of baptism. I felt that God was almost speaking directly to me. Telling me that it is time in my life to be baptized.

As soon as the service was over I rushed out to Pastor Reed and exclaimed, "I want to be baptized!" I meant it with every ounce of my being. I would have been baptized right then and there if my Pastor had said, "OK, let's do it right now!" But our Church (like many others) usually does more than one baptism at a time. Pastor Reed told me I wouldn't have to wait long though - that they would probably be doing it within the next month or two.

And yesterday was the day!

I was so lucky to be baptized in the Church from my childhood & adult life, by my lifelong Pastor. I am also very fortunate to have some of those who mean the most to me there. I always have my little sidekick [Livie of coarse!] with me, and Mom & Dad are always there as well. But today was extra special since my hubby, Perry, came as well! His mom & dad - Trilby & Bill - also came to be there for me. How sweet was that?! Unfortunately, my sis-in-law Kendra is still under the weather. I would have loved to have her there for the special day, but it is NO FUN being sick (*Please continue to say a little prayer for her if you would*)


Back to my baptism... I was definitely the oldest of the 7 of us that were baptized. The closest to my age is nearly 10 years my minor. My husband was 16 when he was baptized. Ironically, just a few years ago I told myself that I was too old to be baptized - now here I am at the age of 25 feeling lucky to be baptized at such a young age!

Long-time family friend, Phil Boger was kind enough to take pictures for me before and during the baptism.

This was all of us as we stood in front of the Church while we read with Pastor Reed a piece out of the hymnal on baptism. We then sat for just a few minutes while he read a few verses out of the Bible & told everyone of the importance of baptism.

Pastor Reed then dismissed us to go to the back so we could each prepare.

When it came my turn, I remember thinking how much it felt like the excitement I experienced with getting married & with the birth of my daughter... only even more intense! It meant so much to me.

Pastor Reed had us each give a brief testimony before we were immersed. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it went something like...

"I have been so blessed in my life. I have a loving husband, a wonderful daughter, amazing family & friends who love and support us... I don't deserve all I've been given. I haven't always made the right decisions, and God knows I have made so many mistakes. But He is becoming more and more important in my life. I wanted to be baptized so show, as Pastor Reed says, an outward testament of an inward change...
I can't say there was a specific time when I said, 'I now believe in Christ!' I've gone to Church my whole life, and I've always believed in Him; I just haven't always been living for Him. And that's what's more important - not just to believe, but to be living for Christ. And I want to live for God every day, in every way I can."

Pastor Reed then immersed me in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

I still get tears in my eyes just looking at the picture and thinking about what it was like!

Normally, I wouldn't even think of putting a picture of myself up like this - totally unedited (except for cropping & color correction so it's easier to see). But I could not be more proud of this snapshot!

I have given my life to Christ completely - both publicly and in my heart.

~~~~~

Afterward our whole family went to Stoll's Country Inn to get lunch. I think everyone stuffed themselves silly - I know I did. Even Livia had quite a bit to eat! It's the nicest buffet I think I've ever been to.

Anyway, it was absolutely wonderful to have everyone there for me on such an important day!

Happy Birthday Garrett!

Today is Garrett's 2nd birthday! Perry, Livia, & I were lucky enough to celebrate with him yesterday at Chuck E. Cheese's (Where a kid can be a kid - and where grown-ups act like 'em too. Har har!) Here are just a few of the awesome pics I got at his party

Mr. Garrett opening up his presents - here he's holding a baseball book we got him.

Garrett had lots of help getting through all his wonderful gifts!

One of the cutest gifts was a Curious George ball. Just perfect for Garrett in every way!

A beautiful picture of Kendra's sweet Mom, Debbie & her grandson.

And how cute is Miss Maggie in her polka dots?! Love it! Y

Here's Kendra & Melody (Kendra's cousin) helping Nolan & Maggie their pic 'drawn' by Chuck E.

An absolutely awesome picture of Matt, Kendra, & Birthday Boy!

And one more of Garrett

:o)

Of coarse I had to get one of me & Livie before we left.
I had us in little matching outfits, and Perry offered to snap a couple of pics for us - glad he did!

We had SO much fun at Garrett's birthday party. I joked at the beginning of this post that this place tends to make grown-ups act like kids too, well it's totally true! Perry & I both went over to the skeeball area, and noticed that there was NOT ONE KID actually playing! It was all "big kids."
After a little wait, Perry started playing & was bound and determined to get the score to get 100 tickets. I couldn't believe it, but he actually DID get it! I played a couple of games myself - I was horrible, but I had a blast! And of coarse we both gave all the tickets we 'won' to the kiddos.

After we left, within minutes Livia was out like a light
:o)

I had to get this picture - not only is she a little doll baby, but this was her very first ride in a forward-facing car seat! Her wonderful Aunt KeeKee (aka Kendra) gave it to us last week, and I'm SO grateful to her! Is it any wonder why I love her to pieces?
:o)

Flashback Friday (Featuring Garrett)

~ Mr. Garrett ~

I've decided that whenever I can, I want to take a quick look at the past on Friday's. I really hope that I can do this every Friday.

Since Garrett's 2nd birthday party is tomorrow, I wanted to feature him today!

This is the first time I ever met Garrett - while he was still in the hospital! His Great-Grandma Norma is giving him a bottle in this picture. Just precious Y

And this is one of the first pictures I have of Perry holding his brand new nephew. It still gives me cold chills & takes my breath away! Who would have known that just over a year later he'd be holding his own baby?!

And here's Garrett at just a few months old being fed by his Great-Grandpa Kenneth. (Garrett's middle name is Kenneth, also - named after his Great-Grandpa!)

And here's Kendra & Matt with little Garrett back in summer of '06. We were all over at Bill & Trilby's for (I think) a birthday.

One more close-up of the little cutie pie I should add that BOTH of these last 2 pics were taken by Nolan at age 6!


This one was just after one of Nolan's ball games later that summer - just look at those beautiful blue eyes :o)

And I definitely remember the day this pic was taken! I had gone over to Kendra's for her to help me with wedding stuff (Yeah, we were planning my wedding back then - how fun!)

Yet another from that day with the beautiful little Miss Maggie.

This one's from Garrett's first birthday...right at a year ago!

And like any one-year-old, he had a BLAST making a mess with his cake!

And then fast-forward to this past summer. Here's Garrett, Maggie, Nolan, & Livia over at their Grandma Trilby & Papa Bill's. We all went over to celebrate both their birthdays since they're so close together.

I just love this one of Garrett looking at Livia in her car seat - he already gets a kick out of her!

Another one from this last summer - Don't you just love the little construction hard-hat?! I was going to say that have no clue what he has in his left hand... But I just remembered what it is! His Papa Bill's cane. That would have bugged me if I didn't figure it out - even though no one else cares!

Sweet little Maggie & Garrett at Pump It Up for Nolan's 7th birthday this past summer.

And here's a SUPER cute one of Garrett, Kendra, Debbie, and Livia just a few months ago. We were all there for Maggie's soccer practice and I couldn't resist this awesome shot!

And here's little Garrett in his MONKEY costume on Halloween '07.
"Hi Mr. Scarecrow! How's it goin... What's your name... Don't talk much, huh?"

Yes, Garrett really IS a monkey! (With banana to prove it)

Garrett and his Daddy (Matt) playing ball on Thanksgiving over at Bill & Trilby's.

One more of Garrett over there - I just think he's such a cutie in this pic. Blond hair, blue eyes - just like his Momma!

From Christmas - Garrett was showing us how much he likes his toys. Think he'll be a baseball player?


These last few Kendra e-mailed to me:

Two paci's? Looks like I'm not the only one with a big mouth! Haha!

A leap of faith into his Daddy's arms - what a little daredevil!

And one last pic of Mr. Garrett peeking out from the closet. Couldn't be any cuter! Love him to pieces and can't wait to see him tomorrow for his b-day party!

Love to all & God Bless!