lots of pics and an update

The light was coming into our room nicely today so we had a little fun with the girls...

Kiva is rolling over like a pro now!

She is sitting up for short spurts and then just kinda falls :) Pretty cute!We are experimenting with the side pony

Kiva is teething :) no teeth yet...but they are sure coming!

The Smithers came in for a visit...words cannot express how much the teach us and how happy we are to have spent time with them!!! Evan drew Jada one day, isn't it great???...thought that was fun...and our living room scene is what we get to do with them...hang out! It was nice :)

We have been good...Kiva has been changing my the minute and Jada has been lots of fun! More on life to come later!

We are rich!

Have we won the lottery? Nope. Did Brian score a new job making millions? Nope. But, we are so so so stinkin rich!

I have been thinking a lot lately about this strange culture that we are a part of. Brian and I live in a 3 bedroom home with a great kitchen, each of us drive a great car, we shower with hot water, Jada and Kiva have more clothes and toys than they need for sure. We have a pantry and fridge full of food and soft cozy beds to sleep in. We have a closet of "extra" blankets for guests and a heater or A/C to help us stay whatever temperature feels nice to us. BUT that is not the "rich" that I am talking about at all!...

Brian and I are "people" WEALTHY! I mean, we have been given so many people in our lives that love us and love our children. Really. Our home is a place where people that we love come and dwell with us. As I write, some of my favorite people are here. One sweet friend is reading a magazine next to me, other friends are playing a game of 'settlers' in the kitchen and some other friends came over for dinner. Tonight every single person laughed and played with Jada and held/loved on Kiva. This happened after my mom and our old friend/neighbor stopped by to say hi and sweetly loved on the girls. We are ALL loved well...and there have been many nights lately that I have gone to bed with tears in my eyes about how generous the Lord has been to me. He is so sweet to hear every prayer and even every thought of hope that I have....and gives me all that I need or didn't even know that I need. I am so thankful! Can I say that again...we are rich! And I really want to say that God has been so good to us. We are loved. And I just want to brag on the Lord...as cheesy as that sounds...we just can't out-give the Lord. He is such a giver.

So, in light of whatever I don't get to have that I "want"....in reality, I am very very blessed beyond measure and I would MUCH rather be rich in love than rich in any other way. Thank you, Lord.

and...I love you guys!

We love Justin

Brian and I are such big fans of a wonderful man named Justin. Many of you know him from Texas A&M and many of you don't have the privelage of knowing him...but he came for a visit all the way from the middle east! I was recalling the many many wonderful memories that we have with Justin...we traveled to London AND India with him. We did camp together at Deer Creek, Brian and Justin served for years in BYX together and Brian lived with Justin for a year in college. We have all learned a ton and changed a lot, but it has been so fun to be friends with him!
When he came to visit last week, I was blown away in a fresh way how cool this guy is! He LOVES...I mean really. He loves people well and serves (and always has) everyone! I think one of the things that stood out about the way he loved this weekend was how sweetly he loved on our girls! I was thinking about if I were back from the middle east and visiting friends, I would want them to stop everything and listen and gawk over how cool I am that I live among a totally different culture and am really loving Jesus and seeing lives changed (which is all accurate about Justin)...but instead, he talked with Jada about the things she likes to do and was interrupted numerous times with bath time, diaper changes and Team Umizoomi...and all the while was full of joy.
I have always respected his servant's heart and willingness to love beyond expectations. So, we love Justin!...sorry about the bad photos...I had my camera set funky. But it is proof of a sweet man with our sweet girls :)

Kiva Hugs and sweet pics

One of the greatest experiences of my life happens daily...I affectionately refer to this as the "Kiva Hug". Kiva loves to hug, she puts her arms around me like she is totally hugging me and leans her little bald head against my cheek. And she LOVES being squeezed while we are hugging, which makes it that much more fun. And while we are hugging she usually sighs or makes the sweetest little noises right in my ear. Oh if I could save and share the smell, feel, and sounds of the Kiva hug...it just might change the whole world and make everyone a little bit happier!
Kiva is in this really cute stage of playing with her feet and most of the time you will see her with her fist in her mouth :) She is totally not a paci girl, which is totally not normal for us! I LOVED these pics of her b/c this is how we spend a lot of our time...playing.

And one of Jada's favorite friends', Sophie, had her princess birthday party which was possibly the most creatively done party ever! Here are the girls

And I thought this was a fun scene in Jada's room the other day...I have too much fun with them.

i have no idea how it got this bad!

Ok, you know how ALL of the folks on Biggest Loser say something like "I have no idea how my weight got this out of hand...I never thought it would get this bad." WELL, that is precisely how I feel about my kitchen floors! I was sweeping today and realized the depths of nastiness...after some serious scrubbing the floors look way way better, but seriously, I have NO idea how it got that bad! But day after day, bad decisions of not cleaning up kept piling up and today I am seeing how hard it is to take back my floors! So, I say, just like the Biggest Loser contestants "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I will not let the juice, dog paws, coffee grounds, and who knows what else win any more!"

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we have had so many people in and out of our home lately, or maybe it has something to do with the dirt that is in our driveway & backyard that keeps finding it's way inside, or maybe it is b/c I am still learning how to be a good homemaker, or maybe it has something to do with having a 3 year old, or maybe just maybe it has something to do with my lack of discipline in scrubbing the floors...either way...I resolve to change! Can I get an amen?

On another note, spring break is coming!!!! YES!!! I can't wait to have Brian home and hopefully do some fun things with the girls...zoo trip or something :) I will keep you updated. And I have not forgotten about updating you about Masterpiece/Talitha stuff...still processing! Love to you...

the best decision...

ahhh...on the heals of a CRAZY but good month, I made a very good decision today...I turned my phone OFF! Today has been one of the most peaceful days that we (the girls and I) have had in a while. I have actually learned a lot today...about being busy, about being still, about simplicity, about myself and about my girls. I love today. I think I will turn my phone off once a week. And I might even do something really crazy and not use the computer that day too!!! We'll see :)