I HOPE YOU DANCE!

I Hope You Dance!

Kylie's first dance!

April 18th Kylie went to her first Father & Daughter dance. She had a wonderful time. Her papa took her, Kylie lost her father fourteen years ago on April 19th . It has been a long a difficult road since that day in April, but the joy this child has brought into our lives, is worth all the trials that have come her way. She entertains us, she delights us, she exasperates us at times, and she inspires us. I can't imagine facing some of the things she has had to face, yet she cartwheels into our hearts and leaves her mark wherever she goes. Some days are not easy, in fact some days are almost heart wrenching, but if you turn the music on, Kylie finds her happy place. I will never forget the day she was born, how beautiful, and tiny she was. Now almost 14 years later she's dancing. How fitting since she danced into our hearts and continues to dance. I love you so much miss Kylie!!!

Congratulations to the new Grandparents!

Look at their Grand Pups!

We are so happy, because our dog Cooper will have some new friends to play with when we visit.

Blossom is the mom and her two pups are still waiting on a name. I see nothing wrong with Earl and Duryl.

I love this picture it reminds me of when we were young and we thought our lives would go on forever. Now all these years later I still love you and I am so thankful you are mine.

Yes He Can, And He Did!

There was a point I began to wonder if I would ever get my husband back. His back started hurting about a year ago, it got worse and worse and the week before his back surgery, he was using a walker to get around our home. The surgery went well, the recovery, not so much. A little over a month later, after a blood clot that almost claimed his life, and two weeks in rehab he is up and walking and Yes He Can Walk, he is a little slow, but he is working so hard to get back to the life we once shared. I have already said thank you, now you can see for yourself what your prayers did.

Last week I wrote about courage. I had ask for courage, hoped for courage, and little did I know it would take more than courage to get us through the next few days. On Wednesday morning, my husband had a Pulmonary embolism, it is commonly called a blood clot.The clot went through his heart and splintered off into his lungs. When the doctor came into our room in CCU he told me, my husband had survived the clot that is known as the drop dead clot. We held our breath and trusted God that he would protect him through the next few days. It was, to say the least the most difficult time in our life. If I am to be honest somewhere in this process, faith took over. I believe in prayer, I believe that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can say to the mountain move, and it will move. I believe this, but I have not seen this happen all that often. I have now seen with my own eyes that nothing is impossible with God. The prayers of God's people carried us through the days that we were both unable to pray or even think. I said thanks before, and now I say it again. Thank you for your kindness, your prayers and holding us up in this difficult time.

Thanks!

What do you do when you can't think of a single verse, or an instance when God gave courage to those who had no courage. How is it that you can read and study the Bible for years and in the midst of a storm your mind is blank. That's what friends are for. To remind us, to hold us up and to pray for us. I can't thank my friends enough for all the prayers that were sent up for my husband. I am so glad that he found a small amount of courage and rememembered that God is faithful when we hang on to courage.

Well it's beginning to look alot like Christmas. The presents are bought, almost. The menu is planned, the food is bought and for a little more than 24 hours there will be no more shopping, no more wrapping presents and lots of eating, laughing and football. The people in the picture above is really what Christmas is to me. Spending time with the ones you love. I am so thankful for each one of them. My mom, has had 85 Christmas day's. I have had 58. How lucky am I that I have spent over 50 of them with my mom and sister, and more than 30 with the rest of the family. How lucky am I that I can spend yet another Christmas with my husband and son, my extended family and friends to numerous to name.

I will not take for granted, this gift that can't be wrapped up with pretty paper and fancy bows. I will not take for granted the fact that many years ago, more Christmas days than I can count, a baby was born in a manger, and grew to live a perfect life, then he willingly gave up that life so that I might have one. I will not forget that it is he that gives peace in the midst of turmoil. I will remember what he has given me. What a present..... I need not ask for more.

Merry Christmas from Earl, Betty and Cooper

Merry Christmas from Earl, Betty and Cooper. What a year this has been. We are still trying to figure out what God wants us to learn, Earl is smiling in this picture but he has been suffering with back pain for months. Cooper is getting more spoiled every day. JiYeon is helping with that. I have been cooking, decorating, and making gifts for days. This is my favorite time of the year. I love the hustle and bustle, the crowds and the planning. I don't want to think about the recession, or the bailouts. I just want to think about the reason I love this time of year. Christmas is about the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is the celebration of His birth — the gift that God gives to all people if they will accept it. It is a time when we give because we have been given.

I love the gift giving, the thought and work put into each gift. I love the time spent with family and friends, the lights and the trees that light up the homes we pass each night. Our prayer this year is that you will find the presence of Jesus Christ in your life, and that you will Celebrate JOY however it comes your way!

The good old days!

"Click to make bigger"

I was looking up quotes about the "Good old days" and to my amazement, most of the quotes painted a picture of a distant memory that really wasn't so good after all.

When I think of the Good old days, I always think of a time when I was thirty something, raising a toddler, playing cards with my friends and going to softball games. Church potlucks, Christmas Musicals, sharing my life with friends that I knew would always be there. Only not, today we lost a friend, the memories are as clear as ever. His laugh still rings in my ears. We have been separated by miles, but we have never forgotten the days we shared. Friends like this are rare, they stand tall in the memories of our life. If I close my eyes I can see you there, where I saw you stand for years, listening, singing and worshiping the God we serve. I can still see you,ready to slam that ball into oblivion, ready to run those bases, ready to slide into home base. You are there RL, you are there in our memories and our hearts.

What I am thankful for!

Knowing that I am being watched over, cause I need it more than most people.

A husband that loves me, his God and all of his family. That struggles daily to survive his pain and keeps going when he just wants to quit. I love him for that.

A Son that has shown us that he can rise above all of the trials that he has faced. I am so proud of him and so thankful for him.

My entire family, they are my foundation, I love them all beyond reason.

I am so glad that God brought JiYeon into our lives. She has been such a blessing.

I am thankful, that God has given me joy, and that being happy and having fun is still a priority in my life. I am thankful for me! I am thankful for it all, the good, and the not so good. I am thankful that I have learned that:

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass by, its about learning to dance in the rain."

Just FOR TODAY ....

Outside My Window... It is a beautiful crisp fall day. I can't wait to go out for a lunch time walk.

I am thinking...How I hope the shots my husband got in his back, will work so he can be pain free and we can have our life back.

I am thankful for... my life, for my husband, for my son and for our JiYeon, no matter how much I complain, I am blessed.

From the kitchen...Steak on the grill, Sweet potatoes, and Salad! Yummmy!

I am wearing...Brown, I love that color, plus a warm black hoodie.

I am creating... a blog post, Planning for Christmas and my sons Birthday.

I am going...to stay as strong as I can, do my best and let God handle the rest.

I am reading...blogs and a book by Kerry and Chris Shook called "One Month To Live"

I am hoping...My husband gets well.

I am hearing...Office chatter. Grrrrrrrr.

One of my favorite things... Cookies and Coffee

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I am going to go shopping and look for some super cool gifts for Christmas.

Wow, just wow!

Today is one of those days that just takes your breath. The clouds are hanging in the sky with splashes of pink and grey. It is beautiful. One of the things I love best about living in Northwest Arkansas is the Fall. I took pictures this morning of the campus as I took my walk.

I love beautiful things...like red trees and orange with green leaves and brown...like uplifting words and bright smiles...like the spirit of Christ shining forth in my home....

I love beautiful people, like those that are just as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside.

Welcome Home Jeff

Jeff, we are so happy you are home.
We are so thank-ful God brought you back to us safe and sound. Is any thing to hard for God! I don't think so...

What I know for sure.

"I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives: All of creation testifies This life within me cry I know my Redeemer lives." Lyrics by

Nicole C. Mullen

I know the more people try to convince me His way is wrong, the more I believe it is right. The more my beliefs are assaulted, the stronger I stand.

I know that even if Wall Street should crumble, if I should lose everything I have, I will trust in Him.

I know about a man who came to earth, died for my sins, defeated death and lives forever. A God who is coming back to take me away from this fallen world.

This God has a name above all other names his name is Jesus.

October is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to see the maple trees and oak trees turn beautiful colors. We live in a mountain area with lots of beautiful trees. The reds, oranges, yellow, and purple leafs along with the stubborn green are one of the reasons I love this time of year. It doesn't last long enough though, its almost like a good movie, once it draws you in, its gone. You have to wait for the sequel. It starts getting cold, but not to cold, and then there is all the little children that come begging for candy. We always enjoy that.

This October is going to be extra special though because our Nephew is home from Iraq, and he will be back with his family this summer.

Welcome home Jeff

We are so glad you are home. We thank

God for taking care of you.

Kylie makes friends everywhere she goes.

Saturday night we took our niece Kylie to see her favorite singer, Joe Nichols. She had the time of her life, dancing and singing to every song. She knew them all. We had to leave our seats in the stands and go to the back so she could dance and sing without disturbing anyone. This is her during the show, she found a new friend named Andy, hugged him and held his hand. I love the smile on both of their faces. I love how she opening loves people, especially those that have special needs.

It's been Monday all day long!

I like rain ok

just not on Monday!

Today Earl preached at Winslow Baptist Church in Winslow, Arkansas. It is a small church in the Boston Mountains. We had a very nice day.
I hope yours was nice too!

Kylie and Joe

Last year we took Kylie to see her favorite singer. It was for her 12th Birthday. This week we are taking her again for her 13th Birthday. We are so excited to spend time with Kylie.
Kylie and Joe Nichols