An answer to prayer!

So much has filled my mind lately...hence the last e-mail!  Here is part of it ( I promise more to come soon!)  We have been praying about Madi's school situation.  Madi was in a new school this year, that we really like, but there is tuition b/c it's a private school.  There is a new charter school opening up near us and we put in for the lottery.....I am happy, thrilled, and relieved to report that she GOT IN!  Not solely because of the money factor, but because this school will go up to 12th grade and I am hoping we will not have to change schools again until college! The bonus is that Madi already knows alot of the kids so it shouldn't be a hard transition...plus, everyone is new this year!  I can't begin to tell you all the ways that God has blessed us lately, we are thanking and praising him.  Many doors are being opened for us and we are constantly being reminded of God's Grace and un-ending LOVE.  Please be in prayer for us as we have some big steps to make and like I said...more to come on that soon...sorry to be so vague! On a "green" note, we just about finished planting the garden this weekend!  I'll try and snap some pics this week.  Will was helping out one day and I called him over to check out a frog.  He bent down real close and I told him to touch him " thinking he wouldn't do it"!  HA!  He touched the little frog and then immediately picked him up!  He was squeezing him and I told him to be gentle!  From then on, he was chasing after frogs!  I just hope he doesn't pick up a snake b/c I seriously might faint!  Of course I didn't have my camera on me!  I'll get some pics this week!  Hugs-Kyla

Trust ( why do I need a darn title?)

As I walked outside this morning, so many thoughts racing through my head, the crisp breeze made the hairs stand up on my arms. What happened to the warm weather? About that time, the sun came peaking out of the clouds with a vengeance as to say " Good Morning", sorry I'm late! I love mornings..especially when I can be outside.  It's peaceful and the birds are always singing!  It's a good time to reflect and start thinking about what lies ahead for the day.  This is when sometimes I get side tracked and worry and chaos start to over-take my happy thoughts.  I sometimes have to stop myself and say " OK GOD, why am I putting you in a box"?  Why do I under-estimate HIS power?  Anybody ever feel like this?  I mean, I know that God has it all figured out...so why do I waste time worrying about things that I have no control over?  I was venting to a friend this week who reminded me of something important. God gives us what we need for just TODAY and today only. If he gave us what we needed for tomorrow or next week or even next year, would we come back to him tomorrow??  He wants us to seek him for all things, everyday.  It's easy to get caught up in the "what ifs". We must rely on his word and know that HE is faithful and will see us through ALL circumstances. What a relief it is to know that God has it all planned out for us...we just have to TRUST HIM! That's when my type A starts to creep out and I have to get that in check!! When that happens I usually open up my devotion book and bible. I LOVE the devotion I am doing right now "Jesus Calling"...best Christmas gift thanks to Aunt Twy!  Mom gave Madi the kids version for Easter and it's equally good! I highly recommend.  Here are a few verses that have kept me going here lately:  OF course our header is one of my fav's Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:6-7 is another favorite: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I LOVE the part that says " which transcends all understanding"...yep, we don't get it sometimes, but guess what: GOD does get it.  If we "GOT IT" all the time would we seek him everyday??  Here's to a day filled with HIS presence and GRACE and MERCY.....and praise the LORD....FORGIVENESS...I need that one alot!!  Blessings to you and yours-Kyla

Sunshine!

     Get out and enjoy the sunshine today, Smile!!

 Oh yeah...I forgot to post about the handsome man below..he recently celebrated 15 years with the Fire Dept.! Yeah...15 more to go! Way to go babe!

         This was taken at the awards dinner!

                          Enjoy your day!!!

Whew....

What a weekend!  I'm still trying to "catch up"!  We had dress rehearsal for the recital on Friday night and the recital was Saturday.  Everything went great and Madi did wonderful! Don't get me wrong, it's great, but it's a lot of work.  The hair, the make-up, the accessories....making sure you have everything that goes with each costume.  Then all the stuff you are supposed to take in case you have a problem...scissors, safety pins, extra tights, hairspray...clean snacks, water,etc..  The list goes on and on...I thought I was packing for a weekend trip! Some of those mama's are SERIOUS!!  It's quite comical to me!  All was well and I'm glad it's over!  Dance doesn't start back till August so we get a break!  Now I'm just counting down the days till school gets out!  I need to stop wishing my life away! Our family seems less stressed in the summer...we're all carefree and having fun! Will got to see Maria, she graciously agreed to come over and keep him while we were at the recital.  He would have torn the stage apart and stole the show...all in under 15 minutes :-)  He was thrilled to see his ReRe!! Sunday, we were EXHAUSTED.  Greg's uncle Vance was here from Connecticut for a class reunion and the only time we could manage to get together was Sunday morning.  He came over and had breakfast, we were happy to see him!  We missed seeing Aunt Doris, but hopefully we'll get to see her soon :-)  OK now for the good part...the pictures!  Oh one funny thing I wanted to share that happened this morning.  Every morning when we come down stairs Will is like " I take Madi school"...meaning he's ready to get in the car and ride to take Madi to school. This morning he kept saying it over and over and we were like "Will, we need to eat breakfast first"!  When we finally get ready to go, I am putting him in the car seat and he looks at me and says "I drive"!!  Yeah right!!  He's only 2 1/2 and he wants to drive us to school!  His sister pipes in and says " Will, if your driving then I'm walking"!!  I said "Son, you're not driving.....maybe in about 14 more years!!

 This was taken at dress rehersal on Friday night...me and my sweet girl...she's growing up too fast!

                                          Madi was so nervous for her first number that right before she went on stage she told me she felt like she had to throw up!  That child is a chip off the old block!  Anytime I get nervous, I puke!  I told her to pull herself together that she did not have time to throw up to get on stage!  When then curtain opened, she look white as a ghost!  The second number she was WAY more relaxed and she looked like she was having a good time!

 I love this picture below...they were getting ready to go on stage..this number was from the movie "Holes"??? never saw that one but anyways, they were to look big and bad!!  This was the "tap" dance, it was really cute! I told her we could recycle this costume and she could be a Butner Prison inmate for Halloween!

                                                   Uncle Vance and Greg!

                                               

 Oh Yeah....forgot to mention that we are planting a garden this year and we have no clue what we are doing :-)

 Well,  I'lI leave you with this last picture!  Will likes to help me do laundry.  I thought " Hey, never to young to teach em"...yeah, that back fired on me!  I always get panicked when it gets really quiet and I don't see Will for a few seconds and this is why...HE'S ALWAYS UP TO NO GOOD AND HE'S FAST!!!  Atleast I caught him before he emptied the whole box of detergent!  It did smell good after I ( actually Greg) vaccumed up Will's mess! Oh we should have named him "Leroy"  as in " Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown...." ok, I won't sing!  Never a dull moment! Keeping it real-Kyla

Where is HE calling YOU?

I rarely watch the news( or any TV for that matter), but for some reason I've had it on this week?  We've all heard about the Boston tragedy and I turn the news on this morning and learn about the plant explosion in TX.  My heart goes out to all people who are facing difficult times.  Madi came home the other day from school and told me they prayed for the people in Boston and I said " that was very sweet" and I left it at that...she didn't ask any questions and I really didn't feel like talking about it.  Being a parent is hard.  I have learned that most of the time if I let her guide and ask questions on her own about world events that occur, then I don't end up saying too much.  I want my children to feel safe in this world...as crazy as it is.  On the way to school this morning, we were listening to KLOVE and they mentioned the explosion in Texas.  Madi said " that's sad mom".  I agreed and she brought up Boston again.  I simply said " Madi, I don't know why bad things happen sometimes but I can tell you that good always seems to come out of something bad that happens." I went on to tell her that I heard that 3 people had lost their lives in Boston and over 100 injured, but that over 300 people gave their lives to Christ that day...right there in Boston.  Many volunteers, emergency workers and by-standers rushed in to help.  Churches opened their doors through-out the night to assist and many homeowners took in strangers.  Good can come out of Bad. Madi has such a sweet spirit about her and she has a Love to help others.  Last night at church, our latest "Haiti team" reported on their recent trip.  It was very touching and Madi and I talked about that too.  She had tears rolling down her face talking about the people of Haiti.  I knew she was listening last night, but I had no clue that a little 9 year old girl truly FELT their hurt and pain. One of the ladies in the Haiti group was sharing that they had all their supplies laid out one day.  They had toys and flip-flops and medicine,etc..  Most kids in America would go straight for the toys...not one single Haitian kid wanted a toy.  They wanted a pair of shoes, FLIP-FLOPS! Madi couldn't fathom not having shoes as she has probably 4 or 5 pairs of flip-flops sitting in her closet right now, not to mention tennis shoes, boots,etc..  Boy is this mama ever so proud of her desire and passion to help others.  We all want to teach our children certain things, but I hope I can always instill in my kids the LOVE of CHRIST. We can all share the LOVE. In part of the Haiti report, different one's went on to say how much those sweet Haitians had touched their lives.....You go over thinking that you are going to touch their lives and share Christ with them( and you do), but they end up blessing you ten fold.  We are blessed beyond measure in America as many of them don't even have their basic needs met. Join me in praying for this country and for the people of Boston and Texas. May we always have a heart for those that are less fortunate than we are. I am a firm believer that God gives us all special talents and abilities to use for HIS purpose.  Do you have to travel to Haiti or to a foreign country? NO.  Can you help right in your small town, America?  Sure you can.  It's all about where God leads you and what he places on YOUR heart.   What is HE calling you to do?
God, my heart is so full today.  Full Joy and full of pain.  I hurt for those that are hurting and I just pray that you would touch them all in a special way.  Let them feel YOUR presence today in their lives.  Let them feel LOVE, PEACE and HOPE that only YOU can provide.  I pray for whoever might be reading this..that you would touch them too.  God, we all have trails and tribulations that we face, but it's SO much easier to face these problems when we have you on our side.  Give us the strength and resources to go out and fulfill your great commission as you have commanded us to do.  May we always seek to please you and bring others to know that un-ending love that you offer to us so freely. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight.  I thank you for all the good that has come out of tragedy this week.  AMEN.

My Sweet Tator....

Mal sent me this picture a few minutes ago of my neice.... sweet Katie baby!  Look how grown she looks! Mal said that Katie told her she liked this outfit b/c it looked like Madi!  I could eat this child with a spoon!  Katie has SO much personality...this child is destined to be a "star"! Her laugh is infectious and that smile could just melt my heart! Four years old going on Sixteen! Last time Katie was here visiting, we were in the car and I asked Madi who was singing a song on the radio.  Madi replied "Katie Perry"..Katie piped up and said " I not Katie Perry, I Katie Hammit"  Poor kid thought we were talking about her! I can't wait to see you my little sweet tator!! Love you bunches-LaLa

Stories of a REAL Butner housewife

Oh my...I feel like I have a big BS stamped on my head ( that stands for BLOG SLACKER!)  These people who post almost everyday...WOW...kudos to you!  You must stay up in to the wee hours of the night or either you don't have kids running around, laundry piled high, dishes in the sink...you get my point!  So....my weekend started off like this.  I needed to take a shower Friday afternoon b/c we were going to a pancake dinner that night.  I had failed to take a shower all day long while the nurse was here (and I'm not sure I had taken one the day before that either..errr) Usually Madi helps to watch Will, but she was at the neighbor's house :-)  Will came upstairs and I thought I could bribe him with TV long enough for me to take a shower (wishful thinking)....he's WAY more interested in water.  I get in the shower and not 2 seconds later, Will rips the curtain half back and is playing in the stream of water....never mind the cold draft I am feeling. Because his arms are angled towards the sky...water is running down his arms and onto his clothes!  He is proud of himself; smiling from ear to ear.  He doesn't care that mommy is freezing, nor does he acknowledge that I am even in the shower! It feels so good to him that he sticks his head under the stream of water!  At this point I should have just stripped him down and put him in the shower, but no that would have made too much sense.  I was so cold, I couldn't think straight and I was focused on getting OUT and wrapping up in my nice warm towel....OH CRAP...my towel!  I was in such a hurry that I left my towel laying on my bed!  I get down and look him straight in the eye and plea for him to go and get the blue towel off mommy's bed!  He smiles and runs in that direction....yet, I watch him pass by my blue towel?  I'm waiting...thinking....ummm, should I jump out and go run and see where he his or just wait....I mean surely he can't open the linen closet door....just then he comes back in with something that resembles a towel!!  That's my smart boy, I'm thinking! The only drawer he can get into in his room is the one with blankets and changing pad covers.  Will hands me a "blue" terry cloth changing pad cover!  I thanked him and let him wipe off his face with it.  I then try to quickly dry my body off, but instead wrap my hair up in the changing pad cover!  This thing worked pretty well...like a hair wrap....Will might be on to something! I somehow managed to get ready and we made it to pancake dinner!  Nothing too exciting happened there...which I'm totally cool with....I don't need anymore syrup to clean up :-) Oh course we needed a few items from Walmart....that was our next stop!  Will has a fit for me to strap him in the cart lately.  I put him in ( kicking and screaming) and roam the garden department in hopes that his wails can only be heard in Raleigh and NOT all over NC.  I was hoping that looking at the pretty flowers would distract him...didn't work.  The octave came down a few notches and I felt like we were safe to enter ( without breaking glass) only for him to "tune up" again.  We raced around like nuts to get the few things we needed and Of course we go to check out and there are like 2 lines open!! I get in what appears to be the shortest line and wait till I finally see someone opening up next to me.  I cut thorough an isle and turn that cart faster than lightning only to almost ram into a man coming full force with his cart.  I gave him my best stare down and kept moving faster( bent forward, legs shoulder with apart in full stride)...at the last second he says " mam, please go ahead"  Whew....thank you sir.  I thought about explaining to him that my toddler had been screaming and I had a cold shower earlier and I only had carbs for dinner and I couldn't be in walmart 5 minutes longer....I stopped myself!  I smiled and just said thank you!...wouldn't you know, Will was good as gold in the checkout line and stopped crying :-)  In fact he and the gentleman I almost ran over carried on a full conversation,  Will even offered him some cheezits from our cart.  I think he was trying to give the man a peace offering for his mother's actions.  Oh what a night.  We all slept good.  We woke up refreshed and headed out to breakfast at one of my fav places 'Elmo's" and then went to the farmer's market in Durham!  We all had a blast and I have no pictures b/c I left my camera at home :-) The weather was gorgeous again...minus the THICK fog of pollen that is now covering EVERYTHING!  Other than that, it was a low key weekend with the usual stuff..church, rest, play....tackle the MOUND of laundry. You know it's time to do laundry when Madi says "mom, we need to get caught up on laundry"!  There was the yard work, Popsicle's, mud, frogs and cleaning up toys...re-washing of dishes b/c Will likes to help un load the dishwasher and throw stuff on the floor....HA!  I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world b/c I LOVE my family!  This stage that Will is going through is going to fly by and while I might be a NUT right now...with any luck I'll snap out of it...just in time to be a grandma and then I can be a NUT all over again!  One of my favorite pictures of Madi is her sitting on the toilet ( she was probably 2) and she had un-rolled what looked like an entire roll of TP...this was all gathered under her feet and she was happily eating M&M's!  Life doesn't get much better than that!  If you can't laugh...then you're missing out!  Hope you all have a wonderful week.  We'll be back soon to report about Madi's dance recital!  Happy Monday-Kyla

a whole lot-a-nuttin...

This weekend has been filled with a lot of much needed R&R. Something is always going on around here, so it was a nice break from the usual hustle and bustle.  Madi's had a fever and sore throat since Thursday....poor kid has felt yucky!  I felt especially bad for her since she was on spring break.....guess it was a good thing we stayed home this year :-) I can't remember the last time I stayed home all day on a saturday!  Greg took Will to a birthday party Saturday morning while Madi and I hung out here....I got SO much accomplised with out a 2yr old and hubby in the house!  The weather was gorgeous and it was refreshing to open the windows and clean! Nothing like crawling into a bed with soft clean sheets!  I did take Madi to the doctor on Friday b/c we were certain she had another ear infection and she DIDN'T!  Our doctor said it's all viral and the same mess all the other 90% of patients are coming in with! The fever has lingered, but she's staring to feel better. Will has been Will....wide open!!  Here's the rest through pics!

MOM.....DO NOT TAKE MY PIC!

Will likes to torment Madi and mess with her baby dolls!

We worked on some of Madi's school work and this is what my table looked like when I went to take a picture!  A little before and after!  My sweet mama bought these cute placemats, plates, and cloth napkins all for under $20...we LOVE some "design on a dime"!  I had the vase and couldn't believe how well it matched...I was getting ready to place that thing in the give away pile! I threw in a candle and wa-la..instant center piece!

Come on, we're raising some talented children around here...we can hula hoop standing up or laying down! Hey...don't laugh, we can use a headband as a crown too!  He thinks he's king of the house!

Oops..Bateman caught me taking pictures!

Even Buddy relaxed!

I'm not sure why, but it's really funny to a 2 yr old to let the scooter go flying down the driveway and crash in to the garage?

Just thinking and eating a popsicle!

Hey....I caught a bug on my finger and I can hold my popsicle up-side down and let it drip everywhere!

We teach SHARING around here!

And getting DIRTY/HAVING FUN!!  Oh and yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you...Will is walking around outside in his socks.  I realized that he didn't have shoes on after he was in the grass, I mean what was the point in going back in then...they were already dirty!  Thank goodness for bleach!

We also teach CIRCUS acts...Will balancing himself while watching TV!

What would be a weekend without baking something!  They started out as plain rice krispy treats that turned into purple ones topped with chocolate and sprinkles :-)

Oh yeah, Greg and I had a date night saturday night!  Well kinda...we visited a man in our church that's in the hospital.  My mom kept the kids and she was like...go get you some coffee when your done.  Greg and I decided to make it before we left home and take it with us!  We're so romantic!  We took this pic in the parking garage at Duke before we got out of the car!

                                     

                                               This is So US...the coffee!! Not black and white silly!...Greg is simple, I'm      well...not always simple! So different...yet so much alike! I love my husband! Don't feel sorry for us...we get a date night Tuesday...awards banquet at Greg's work!  Honestly...we just love being home with our kids!

A few pictures from the birthday party!

That about sums it up!  Hope you all have a wonderful week! Hugs-Kyla