Sometimes you just have to play in the rain....

We have had some wonderful rain this week! We have had the worst drought season we've ever had and it is now coming to an end...thank goodness! Last year drought was so bad and we had a record year of grass fires and dirt storms.

Today we are happy it's raining and its that good rain where there's no thunder and lightning. Farrah' is so funny when we get a thunder storm. She hears the thunder and we try to show her the lightning and at first she wasn't to sure what was going on. Then we could see her wheels turning and she said "Lightning McQueen is coming to our house!!! Where's Mac?" It's the funniest thing! She is convinced that Lightning McQueen and Mac are coming....sweet girl!!

For Farrah's birthday, mom had gotten her a pair of rainboots and a raincoat. Farrah has be itiching to wear it and we finally got a day with rain with no thundering and lightning. We ran our errands dressed with our rainboots and umbrella's. Farrah was so excited to walk in her boots through all the puddles.

When we finally got home I promised her we would go play in the rain and we had a blast! She splashed and ran in the puddles and was just overjoyed! She was so fun to watch play and it brought back so many memories of my childhood. Playing in the rain is one of my favorite memories as a child.

Farrah just melted my heart in the car yesterday. She said "Thank you God for this rain..Amen!" Made this momma's heart proud that my girl was thanking and praising God!

Kitchen tour!

I love linking up with Kelly's Korner and her home tours!  This week it's kitchens and well I must say I LOVE my kitchen! 

We moved in and painted all the bedrooms but left the kitchen blank until I could get a vision for it.  I really wanted something different and warm and I think I have it.

I painted the yellow color first and let it dry over night and then James helped me add the stripes.  All the stripes are is a glaze over the yellow so its very subtle and that what I wanted.  You can't see it very well in pictures but in person it looks GREAT!  I have more comments on my kitchen then any other room in my house (Farrah's room is a close second...haha!).

This is the view from my living room. I'm in the process of looking for new bar stools and haven't found the right ones yet. 

View from my dining room.

View from my laundry room.

Lastly, my dining room.  I had this vision for these chairs to all be different colors and I chickened out at the last minute so I really need to find all matching chairs. 

Thanks for stopping buy and taking a look and I love comments and any suggestions you might have...Thanks!!
 

Farrah's big girl room!

A couple of months ago I moved Farrah out of her toddler bed and into a big girl bed. I didn't want to change Farrah's whole room so I kept with the same color...red, black and light green. If you know me at all, you know I don't go with the ordinary...haha! Thankfully I found her bedding at a local kid boutique, Kidspace. I LOVE this place! If i had had notice when Farrah was born I would have been in trouble because of this store. I like this because I know Farrah will be the only one with this bedding. I also had some prints custom made for Farrah's room. I think they are so adorable and perfect for her room. Again, knowing that no one will have these prints makes it really special.

After Farrah saw it all completed she was so excited! She told me "Mommy, I really love my big girl room!" Just knowing that she loves it makes this mommy very happy.

14 years of marriage!

On Wednesday, James and I celebrated 14 years of marriage! It's been a wild ride. We have traveled the world and have had so much fun. We've had a a lot of joy and a little heartache but I wouldn't do this with any other than James! James and I met 19 years ago and I thought it would be fun to have a trip down memory lane...haha! James and I at my Freshman prom. We are such babies..haha!

James' Senior prom

My Senior prom

James' Senior football picture!!!!

James proposing.....This is my favorite!

It's been an amazing 14 years and I can't wait to see what the next 14 years have in store for us!! Love you more today and more everyday!

Funny Farrah!

Here lately Farrah has started really showing her personality. This girl is a riot!! We laugh at her everyday and with being so funny also comes a very tender heart!

Three has not been the easiest with all the testing but Farrah is making it a little easier with making us laugh. It just amazes me how God knows me and James so well. We love to laugh and play and that is exactly what Farrah is. Every night when I pray over Farrah that is the first thing I thank God for....that she is a joy and a blessing and thanking Him for her laugh (it's my favorite!)

Here are a couple of things she's up to lately...

When I tell Farrah I love you she responds in "I too, Mommy." I really hope this never changes!

She has started randomly saying I love you mommy and its always perfect timing....it makes me stop and smile at her and I think my heart will explode!



Farrah is very concerned with every one's feelings but at times I have to wonder cause she can blow someone off in two seconds. It's usually someone who won't pay her any attention or being mean to someone else. I've seen her stand up for her little friends and it makes me one proud Momma!



Every night when we pray she always asks to pray for her friends....Madi, PeyPey, Maci, Ava, Molly and Jack. It's the sweetest thing! And she won't let me forget them either. If I do she is quick to say "Mommy, pray for my friends!" Love it!!

James and I argue who gets to put Farrah to bed cause that is when she really wants to cuddle and talk. We climb in her bed and read her a book and that's when we have our best talks...its usally about friends, God and how her day went. It truly is a precious time!



She is all about purses and play jewelry right now. This girl can pack a purse!

When Farrah has her mind made up there is no changing it....just like her daddy! Haha!! (Totally kidding! If you know me at all....well then you know).

I've really started seeing her do what mommy does. If I'm wearing flip flops she wants to wear hers and if she can't she will melt so fast...She tells me "I want to be just like you, mommy." It's a lot of pressure but good pressure for me. I'm really aware of how I dress and what comes out of my mouth cause I know she is watching!



I could go on and on but I will save some for a later post..haha!

Love my Farrah girl!

Czech bound!!

When James and I went on our first mission trip years ago, we came home with the idea of taking each of our nephews and nieces with us. So this year I have the chance to take my niece, Quinn! I'm so excited to see what God is going to do through Quinn.

We are going to the X-Large camp in the Czech Republic. This camp is an English speaking camp aimed at youth. There will be different classes these kids can sign up for.....English, sports, dance, art and more. I chose this trip for Quinn because we are working with kids her own age and I know she'll be able to relate to these kids so easily!

In years past, we've come through some sort of spiritual attack. The first year, my body was attacked physically. I had to have ACL surgery on my knee six weeks before our trip. The second year, our marriage was attacked. The third year, our family was attacked with the result of a miscarriage. I know to be prepared for attacks, but when those attacks come you never know which area of your life will be affected.

The hard part is I'm already feeling the attacks. It seems like my person is being attacked...does that make sense?? It's who I am. I'm a wife, mommy, daughter, sister and friend. I don't really seem to fit in anywhere right now. So it's a little lonely. But I do know one thing.....I will be a better person when I walk this journey but in the meantime it's really hard.

Today I was laying in bed and Farrah and James were with me and all I could think is how blessed I am! Those two people are the two most important people in my life and those two are all I really need! I love my mom and dad, sister and brother and family but who I really am is a wife and mommy. God gave me this calling a long time ago and it's such an honor to have them.

This year is a hard year for me now that I have Farrah. I have never been away from James for fourteen days much less Farrah! I'm just such a planner and I need to have everything in place before I go to make it easier on Farrah, James, my mom and Jean.

Thank you for all your prayers and support! I couldn't go on this trip without your help!

This past weekend we had a great time with our team going to Czech! (This is only a portion of our team)

Easter 2012

We had an amazing Easter this year! I always love this time of year. It's such a great reminder of God's amazing love. It makes me really think about the price that was paid on the cross. As I hold my daughter, all I can think about is the meaning of what true sacrifice means.

This year we had dinner and an Easter egg hunt with James' family. As always, we had a blast! Farrah was really into it this year and was so fun to watch. I really enjoy having our families close to us. Farrah getting to know and play with her cousins is such a blessing!

Ready for the hunt!

Fortner cousins!





Every year Jean buys a pinata for the kids to swing at. It's always so fun to watch them go crazy swinging a big stick...haha!



Easter Sunday was a very special day for us. Our church had asked us to participate in the services. We felt so honored and were excited to share what God has done in our lives. Leslie had organized the services and it was truly AMAZING! She had asked several people to share their testimonies and we heard of marriages being restored, kidnapped children being returned and a single mother in debt becoming totally debt free!

Our testimony was going through fertility treatments and multiple miscarriages and then getting a phone call that forever changed our lives...adopting a baby girl! They had us on stage and our testimonies were on the screen behind us and then when ours said a adoption of a baby girl, they had Farrah walk on stage. You could hear all the gasps and the Aww's. It was so special and very emotional! I'm hoping the video will be online soon and I'll put a link up so you can watch it.

Easter Sunday with my precious family!



That evening we went to my parents house and had Easter. Again, we had a blast. I just love having a child and teaching her the true meanings of Christmas and Easter but its also fun watching them have fun with different traditions.





Caroland cousins!



We had a great Easter and I can't believe this is Farrah's fourth one....time is flying by!