Video of Sarah Walking

Sarah's started walking...check it out.

Sarah is 11 months old today!!

What happened to my little baby girl?!! She is now a fun lovin', lil' miss indepentent, walking, talkin' sweet heart! Yes..you read it right..she took her first steps this weekend! She can take about 4-5 steps before she gets so excited that she gets ahead of herself :) What a wonderful 11 months it has been! We are so blessed!

All Boy!

There's nothing like seeing a little boy playing barefoot in the water!

For All You Star Wars Fans Out There...

A recent video of Darth Vader playing golf...Enjoy

Fantastic Video

You've got to take 5 minutes and watch this video. It's worth your time. I'd love for us to do this at FBC, but we can't control our lights b/c we have stained glass windows.

Enjoy...

My 5k Run

At 30 years old, I ran my first ever race today...the Fiddler's 5k.

My time was 29:49. It was a difficult course with a lot of hills.

Here's some pics.


Coming across the finish line...

Luke was my biggest fan. He was waiting for me just past the one mile mark and then again at the finish line...


This is the group of guys from the church who ran the 5k...

This is the last round of pics I took off of my camera. I don't have enough time today to do more indiviual post so I'm dumping everything on here. This is our Flordia vacation with my parents and BBQ for Roth and Jessica.

Becca- I hope your happy now!!! :)

A Day with Mamsie and Grandpa

When Mark's parents came to visit last month we had fun at a local boat dock with a great park! It had manual SNORTS! If you are not familar with what a snort is please read the book Are You My Mother.

Water Lovin' Baby

Sarah loves to splash in the water! I just make sure she has her own water!! (See next post!) Haha

Bare Bottom on the watertable

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We enjoy playing outside, a lot! Since I am trying my very best to potty train Luke I thought it would be a great idea to have picnic and play outside in his underwear! Well, I think he likes going commando better!!! Just remember to not drink the water!

Zoo fun

Last month
we enjoyed our first trip to the Nashville Zoo with friends from church. It was very hot but I'm glad we went then instead of now because it is much hotter now! Luke liked holding hands with Emma and Juliana the best! Sarah and Graham kept each other company in the stroller:)

Mother's Day

Well, Mother's Day is always special because you are just so grateful for your kids, but I had a sick one this year. Luke has come down with a horrible rash and fever. the dr. thinks it's Scarlett Fever but isn't 100% sure. Bless his little heart!!! Keep him in your prayers please!

Cutie Pie

This is Sarah's first Pigtails!

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Do No Evil

I love this first Picture!!! They did that on their own!!!


This is Sarah's first girl playdate. My friends Anna and Kelly came to Smithville and brought their precious little girls Reagan and Anna to play. I am not sure who had more fun...the mommies or the babies! Anna and I used to live on the same street growing up and have always loved babies! Now we have our OWN!!!! We HAD to do a few pics!

Fun at the Golf Course

One day when Mark was off of work on a Thursday we surprised Luke and took him to the golfing range after preschool! Sarah and I enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.

Dandylion Prince and Princess

They REALLY love each other!

This is a photo shoot from Sunday! Luke goes for the bow and Sarah goes for the toes!! (Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate the pics.)

Birthday trip to Atlanta

These are some highlights of Mark's birthday celebration in Atlanta. Sorry I don't have any pics of him and Justin playing golf at Stone Mountain. We stayed in the Westin in downtown and the view was amazing even though they had a lot of tornado damage some a few weeks ago. The kids favorite part of the trip was the Children's Museum. Luke got to drive a forklift and a crane, play trains, fish, and tons more!!!
Thanks to Jane Howell for letting all of Smithville know it was Mark's 3-0!

30 Years of Undeserved Faithfulness

Today is the day. April 9, 1978 I was born. That was 30 years ago. This is my brief reflection on 30 years of undeserved faithfulness.

Many people never make it to 30. Many are aborted without even being given a chance. Many die in childhood of horrendous diseases b/c they don't even have access to clean water. Many die of tragic car accidents and the like in their teens and twenties...and yet none of this has been remotely close to me. Undeserved faithfulness.

I am no different than these who die before thirty. I was born in the United States of America. What did I do to deserve that? Nothing. It is a blessing undeserved. It is also a great responsibility.

I have wonderful parents. My mom and dad worked hard to raise me right. They loved me and gave me opportunities. They stayed married even through tough times. They didn't quit. And for all of this I am the one who is greatly blessed. Undeserved faithfulness.

I have a sister that I got in some good fights with as a kid. We had a lot of fun together. She is as blessed as I am, and now she is a wonderful and gracious young woman. Undeserved faithfulness.

I have a beautiful and wonderful wife who never quits loving me and serving me. I cannot figure this out. Even when I am the hardest person in the world to love and get along with, she is continually faithful to me. She is a godly wife and mother full of patience and kindness. We're moving towards our 7th anniversary this summer. Undeserved faithfulness.

I have two beautiful children who are healthy and full of life (see pictures in other blog entries). They bring joy upon joy into my life. They teach me the lessons of God in a real and tangible way. They allow me the great pleasure of bearing the title, "father." You can never get tired of hearing the word "daddy" energetically yelled out as you enter the door coming home from work. Undeserved faithfulness.

I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Lord of the universe. Undeserved faithfulness in its fullest expression...that he would choose to redeem me, his enemy...that he would choose to do so by dying a brutal death...that he would continue in faithfulness to me as I daily continue in my struggle against sin. As I read Romans 9 this morning I am reminded that I was not saved b/c of something in me that was smart enough or was able to make the right decision to choose Christ. No I was saved by the mercy of God. Pure grace. Purely undeserved.

Here I sit, April 9, 2008. The words "undeserved faithfulness" perfectly describe my life.

Thank you mom. Thank you dad. Thank you sis. Thank you Em. Thank you Luke. Thank you Sarah. Thank you Lord Jesus.

May I live a life full of gratitude.

Watch me Grow Easter Pics of Luke

Here is how much our Bubba has grown over the past 3 Easters.