Valentine's Party

On Friday, we got up and did some school and then headed to our co-op Valentine's Party!! We are a part of two groups this year...First Baptist Woodstock's Timothy Ministry and SHOUT. SHOUT is the group that sponsors our Keepers At Home group that we attend each month. They also have lots of playdates, field trips, and parties all through the year. We were so excited to be a part of this one!

The girls have met such sweet friends at their Keepers group and many of them also attend Timothy Ministry every Tuesday. So, it's extra special when they get to see these friends at other times. These events are really important to all of us as our girls get older. They love having friends to hang out with who also are homeschooled! There were over 100 kids at the party, so they divided up all the children by their age groups. Then, they had about 30 minutes at every station...then they moved on to other activities! The good thing was that they were in the same group together and that friends were also in their group too:)
Our first activity was arts and crafts! They made really neat bookmarks and Valentine magnets for my fridge:)

I am always so grateful that Jay LOVES to do things with the girls whenever he can! Thankfully, this party was on a Friday and he was off and able to come. He was one of two men there surrounded by kids and moms. What a mighty good man I have...and the girls have!!!

Socializing is one of their FAVORITE parts! I love that they are making sweet friends and enjoy meeting new people too. These two co-ops and our church have been so wonderful for them to have and make friends. I am especially grateful that they have lots of girl friends...as at our last church they mostly had guy friends. I prayed for years that God would bring us girl friends:)

Game time was our next stop. We hung out playing some games for a while...then headed to an organized game time too.

And no party is complete without LOTS of yummy treats!!!

Then...the snow started and the kids lost all interest in anything else but playing in it!! They had snowball fights and FUN! It only lasted a little while since our girls didn't have their snow gloves or coats on...so they got a little cold making snowballs.

Beautiful...

LOTS more Valentine's fun to come...

What a DAY!

Today has been amazing!!! We woke up to more snow and sunny weather and were were headed out...after a yummy Valentine's surprise breakfast from my hubby (another post!). Then...we were outta there! As we came down the stairs we met some of our neighbor friends and they were "sledding" today. This sledding was using the tops of large plastic storage containers. So, Jay headed back inside to find ours and the FUN began for everyone...
The really nice thing about living in an apartment is all the hills and space to play!!! Our complex is surrounded by beautiful woods and has lots of room to play in the snow and sled!

I LOVE this...sister racing!

I guess you could call this Southern sledding:)

Then..in a tribute to the Winter Olympic Games...snowboarding!

They ROCKED this sport out all afternoon!! Watch our Shawn White...the Flying Tomato has nothing on these girls!

Jay and I HAD to get in on this fun...and no I did not win:( I think he had a head start...

And of course, the traditional snow fight broke out that was started by Dad! But, the girls were ready to use their "sleds" as shields.

If you look at this photo in the top left side you will see the LARGE snowball flying at me as I tried to take his picture...YIKES!

Then, we had to make some snow...people! Jay and I set to work to make ourselves in honor of Valentine's Day! This one was mine and...

...this was Jay's. Now, I hope this is not a picture of things to come 'cause he looks a little plump for my man! But, the hair is awesome!

Anli made her snowman and decided to take it for a ride on the sled. Only Anli things of those kinds of things...that is why we are CRAZY about her!!!!

Virginia balances on a HUGE snowball...maybe a future Olympic game in the works?

Their friends came back out after lunch (yeah, we were out there a long time!!) and they had a blast playing with them.

Virginia and her little friend decided to make a HUGE snowman! Great job girlies!

What a GREAT day and now we are all in our jammies, cooking a wonderful dinner, and watching some speed skating, ski jumping, and luge today. Oh boy...what a DAY!

Beautiful Day!

Today we had an amazing day full of SNOW fun!! We had been hoping that the snow that was forecasted would truly hit us and it DID!!! It started to snow when we were at our co-op Valentine's Day party (later post) and then did not stop! So, after a stop at Starbucks...we headed home to get in our snow gear and we played for hours. It was such fun!!

Virginia and I made this snowgirl...isn't she the CUTEST? OK...Virginia is the cutest...but the snowgirl is very cute:)

This is the top of a car to show how many inches we have gotten...and that was at about 4pm...it's STILL snowing as I type this at 9:00 (while watching the Olympic Ceremonies!!!!!).

Then, some of our neighbors came out and the girls played for a long time building another snowman together. They had a great time!

We had a wonderful day...and more photos to come! We LOVE snow...

SNOW!!

Today we were at our co-op Valentine's Party and it began to SNOW and
SNOW outside!! We all headed outside for the kids to run and play and
have a SNOWBALL fight:)

It is still snowing and we are sipping Starbucks together then headed
home for more fun in the snow together!!! It is so beautiful..and so
are our girls:)

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Family Focused Friday

One morning the girls got up and saw that the "mail woman" had delivered an extra big gift!! I had been searching for a new devotion for the girls to do for their quiet time in the morning. They had been doing one that was a devotion for "little princesses" and though I totally believe my girls are princesses...they are not so little anymore...sniff.

So, while my family was baking away making my awesome daisy cake I went to spend some time at the Christian bookstore looking for new devotion books for them. I am quite a hard sell when it comes to books...and especially devotionals. I'm REALLY picky and so it takes me LOTS of time to make sure it's what I want. I take it seriously.

About 4 hours later (I exaggerate...but it was close!) I think I have found one I like and they like! It is a one year devotion that begins each day with THEM looking up the Scripture in their OWN Bibles. I want them opening their Bibles every single morning and reading the Words for themselves. That way they get more and more familiar with the Bible and can make notes or highlight verses they like. Also, God may lead them to other verses above and below the ones for that day. I like that.

Then, there is a small story that is about the theme for the day. They are cute and applicable too. The girls really like those since it is all about girls...the title of this devotional is The One Year Devos for Girls! Lastly, it has a focal memory verse for the day. It's more of just a verse to think about every day...then there is a focal thought to kind of summarize it all. Overall I'm happy with it and the girls were THRILLED!

So, each morning they are enjoying getting up to spend their time with the Lord personally. We have our family devotion time that is a little more expository with Jay. He goes through a book of the Bible verse by verse and helps them to crack it open to find application for their lives. He does a great job! But, we do want them to have personal times where they are alone getting in the Word themselves.

So, if you have a girl between the ages of 7-13...I think this would be a good purchase to make. And since I have two girls...I bought the first and second one so that we are good for TWO years!! They have a notebook to write their prayers and thoughts in...so that we can switch books next year. I love it!

I'm loving how the "mailbox" was able to hold that BIG book!

Winter Olympic Prayer Guide

We ordered this wonderful prayer guide to go through each day of the
Winter Olympics AND the Paralympics. We have been busy studying the
history and facts and games of the Olympics in school, so when I saw
this guide on the WMU website...for $1.99...I couldn't wait for it get
here!!! And it arrived today just in time.

But, I encourage you to purchase it and just start when it arrives
since it will be going on until Feb. 28th...so you have time!!!

I will also be posting daily prayer points for each day that are in
the back as a quick reference guide just to get us all praying as we
watch and cheer. The Olympic mission teams need our prayers as do
those who are lost. Let's be strategic during this time when the
world's eyes are all turning towards this event.

If you would like to purchase this book please click on this link:

http://www.wmu.com/index.php?q=content/go-gold

I also got another wonderful item that I'll tell you about soon/)

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Thanks!

I have had a wonderful birthday! Thanks to all who have called, sent emails, text, e-cards, and even left sweet messages on Jay's Facebook status! I had a wonderful weekend relaxing with my family...then I had a fun night with some girlfriends eating YUMMY cake and talking until WAY too late:) It was such fun and they spoiled me with sweet gifts too!

Tomorrow I am going to spend the afternoon with one of my best buddies who is in town from Alabama...then we are all going out to dinner with college buds for a night of catching up and hanging out. Then...we are coming back here to enjoy a fun gift Jay got me...Scene It 80's Version!! I mean you know it is gonna be good when Kirk Cameron and Olivia Newton John are on the front:) I can't wait to play it!

So, it has been a great birthday and I know this year is going to be amazing too! I can't wait to see all God has in store this year. Thanks for joining the journey!

(Yes, I had my cake and ATE it too!!!)