Today my beauty turned three. This little kid has got the be one of the coolest girls in the world. She is smart, mature, cute, funny, sweet, caring, and soooooo much more. I love you, Emilie! I'm so thankful Jesus gave you to me! You are the perfect little girl. I hope you never get too old for my cuddles and kisses! :-)

I'm sorry that these aren't the best pics in the world. James took some which I know are a million times better and which I hope to snag at some point...but these will have to do for now.

Here is the cake I made (Emilie's choice...do NOT let your daughter choose her cake! haha! Actually, it came out pretty good considering I'm not the greatest when it comes to making/decorating cakes. It was a fun experience. The keys rock!! :P)

Zee Cake



Birthday Girl



"Sir Alex" getting ready to...er...fight the mighty dragons! :)



More to come...

Letizia taught Alex an Italian song. Can't say for certain that he's singing it properly here...but it sounds cute :P

It's that special time of the year where I turn a year older...oh joy! :-) Happy Birthday to all of you that I get to share this special day with...there's a whole bunch of you. You know who you are :-)! May you have an awesome day!!

Alex's very own, very first website (A little project with Daddy)! --Still a work in progress but check it out here:

http://alexbarnes.net

After reading "Megashift" I got inspired to start a prayer journal. I believe having one will greatly enhance my prayer life.
Why am I posting this here? Because I want YOU to send me your prayer requests! If you read this blog (or just happened upon it today and need prayer) feel free to send me anything you'd like me to pray for. It can be simple, or huge and complicated, personal...or not. I promise to pray for you every single day! You have my word! And I also promise to keep your request confidential. --Just between you and me!
Even if I don't know you, I'd still love to pray for you. So, send it in...tell a friend...and I'll start praying! :-)

Praying for someone is not the least you can do but the most!

I'm so thankful for everyone in our home that makes it possible for us parents to get some much needed time off every Saturday. We so appreciate you! I love you guys! You're the best! They had a fun day today.

(pretty good face painting here, huh?--such pros!)

Emilie


Cutie sisters (Sheryl & Alyssa)


Tisha


In the works...


Final product..."The Cowboy Tiger" :-)


Pretty Sheryl

Me: Why am I your Mommy?
Emilie: Because I liked you the best!

Weep!

Especially when the baby starts laughing, haha! Too Funny!

Alex made his own recipe for apple cookies the other day and wanted to try and make them. They came out pretty good :-). Here is the picture recipe he made (instead of writing it out he wanted to make pictures of the ingredients). Notice at the top is says, "Alex\\co\uk"...I thought that was cute, heh. He wants to start his own little cook book. Who knows...might be the small beginnings of something great. :-)

Here is the recipe:


The final product. Not bad :-)

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." -Helen Keller

People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel." –Anonymous

Whatever you do in life and love is forever etched in the hearts of those that it affects." -Source Unknown

To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain." -Source Unknown

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. --African proverb

The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live. --Ethel Percy Andrus

We learn the inner secret of happiness when we learn to direct our inner drives, our interest and attention to something outside ourselves. --Ethel Percy Andrus

What affects everyone can best be solved by everyone.--Anonymous

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingersby living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,
but also where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.