Raphine Carnival 2015

 Last week, we headed out to Raphine for our annual trip to the Raphine Carnival. We had been watching to see what days they were holding the Carnival and the big girls were so excited!

 We got their wristbands and they were off to the rides! Brent and I did manage to grab a bite to eat before we got to the first rides.

 This little lady was finally tall enough to ride the swings with her big sister this year! She was thrilled!

 She wasn't quite tall enough to ride the big slide without a parent yet so she was able to get her Daddy to go with her on this one.

 This little lady had a ball watching her big sisters. She was too small to ride anything on her own yet but she was so excited to watch that she just kept wiggling!

 

 She did get to taste a little spoonful of raspberry ice cream while her sisters rode.

 
She also did get to sit on one of the carousel horses while it was sitting still. Just watching how excited she was while watching her big sisters, I am guessing when she gets old enough that she will like the ride the rides just as much as her big sisters.

 
 And, of course, there was this...The Dragon Wagon! They rode this ride SEVEN times while we were there. Thankfully, only 4 times in a row...then three more times later in the evening. They even waited an extra turn in line so they could have a chance to ride in the front car a couple of times.

 What a fun family evening we had! It is so great to have such a fun carnival for the kids so close to our house. We all look forward to it each year. I can tell you, for sure, the girls are looking forward to next year's carnival already!

The REAL Paint Party

 We have been spending several days over the past few weeks at our home in Colonial Heights trying to get some required painting done inside. Lord willing, the house will be going on the market in early July. Please continue to pray.
While Brent and I have painted and Bethany has taken her morning or afternoon nap, I have had several arts and crafts projects for the big girls. They love to paint with their Crayola kids paints and had been asking to paint at home for a few days. We had to have the carpet in the Colonial Heights house replaced upstairs, so I thought I will let them paint with their paints while Brent and I paint the house. My thought was "it won't even matter if they get it on the carpet since the carpet is going to be replaced the end of the week anyway.

Here are their masterpieces that made it on paper. As they were painting, it didn't take very long before I heard "Mmmoommm, I got paint on the carpet!" What a relief to be able to reply "That's ok, honey. Remember they will be replacing the carpet later this week"
Brent was listening to this whole conversation as he painted (remember I said their Daddy makes sure they have lots of fun...). He replies, "Why don't you just let them paint the carpet since it is going to be taken up anyway?" Why not, indeed?

 This was as much of the carpet as I could get in the picture with my camera lens, but the rest of the room looked pretty much like this too.

 We even got some carpet handprints. This was actually Bethany's first ever handprint with paint. Usually, I use her foot if we are doing hand or footprint art because she closes her hand up and makes a fist. This time she let me paint her hand too.

 

 Here are some of the carpet masterpieces!

 I love handprint art. So we even got a set of family handprints too. I left a note for the carpet installers asking them if they didn't mind if they would please cut out the area with our handprints (bet they have never had that request before!) for me to save. They left most of the painted area for me and Brent cut out our handprints in a small rug. So I have a little piece of our house there as a remembrance.
What painting fun these girls had with this Paint Party. It was definitely memorable. I told them this might be the only time in their lives that they get to paint the carpet. Now the new carpet has been placed in the Colonial Heights house and there will be no more paint anywhere near the carpet!!
                         

Father's Day 2015

Today we enjoyed celebrating our favorite guy on this special Father's Day! The big girls were really focused on picking out a special gift for him and making their cards this year. Each of the girls got to pick out a shirt for him ( I may have said a few times "Honey, I don't think Daddy will wear that kind of plaid...) and after a little guidance they found a shirt they and their Daddy would like and they were very proud of what they found. They each picked out their own gift bag for their gift and made a special card for their Daddy. We were so thankful to have Bethany here to share this first Father's Day for her with her Daddy.

We did get to take Brent out for lunch for Father's Day. He opened his gifts while at the restaurant and thanked the girls profusely for his tissue paper (yes, he was teasing them) and his shirts. Later in the day we had a family supper on the porch watching the sunset.



Here are Daddy's girls...and they really are. Rachel always wants to show her Daddy her latest craft or picture, Bekah always wants to stay right beside Daddy, and Bethany gives him that wide open smile that lights up her whole face. And they each know how much their Daddy loves them and treasures each of them. I know it has been different for him having 3 girls after growing up with all brothers, but he does a great job with all our girls. I thank God that He made Brent exactly the Dad these 3 little ladies need. He is a great example of Jesus to them as he loves them unconditionally so well. He is very patient with them and he makes day to day life so fun for them and with them.


Most of all, he sets a wonderful example for them of a godly man who loves Jesus and serves Him wholeheartedly and stands firm in his faith, and a godly husband who loves and gives to his wife and family daily. I am so thankful for the example Brent sets for our girls each day.

Happy Father's Day, Brent! We thank God that He gave you to us and we are thankful for you each and every day!

A Special Shower

 On Saturday, we were able to attend a special wedding shower for our friend, Alyssa, back in Colonial Heights. I originally thought the girls and I would not be able to attend but due to a last minute schedule change we were able to make it to the shower. We were headed down to work on our house down in Colonial Heights and I realized the girls and I could make it to the shower too. We were very excited! This wedding is particularly special to the girls and us. For the big girls, they are both going to be flower girls and they are incredibly excited! Alyssa was one of the young ladies we had in youth group at Swift Creek from 7th grade all the way through
her graduation, and now she has just graduated from Liberty, is serving the Lord faithfully and is preparing to get married next month. We are so excited for her and Kevin and pray for the Lord's blessings on them as they serve Him together!

Here is Alyssa, the bride to be, and Erika, the maid of honor, with our two flower girls!

We had a great time at the shower celebrating Alyssa and getting to visit with several good friends from Swift Creek too. I wish we had even had a little more time to visit with everyone.
Of course, we had to get a picture with the bride to be and the mother of the bride as well! This family has been such a blessing and good friends to our family.

It won't be long until July 11th! Alyssa and Kevin, we are praying for you all as you complete the final few weeks of wedding plans and are looking forward to your wedding and praying for your future marriage together!

Happy Graduation 2015

 

 On Saturday, we enjoyed seeing several of our seniors from FMBC graduate from Rockbridge County High School.

 Congratulations, Olivia, Josh, Ana, and Christopher!

 Congratulations also to Ryan, Charissa, and several others as well!

 After the graduation ceremony, we had a full day of honoring some of the graduates. First, we headed to FMBC for Josh's graduation lunch. The girls met some new friends and we had a wonderful lunch there celebrating with Josh and his family. Brent had the camera so I didn't get as many pictures there.
             
Later in the afternoon, we headed to Christopher's graduation celebration. The girls had a blast hanging out with Christopher and friends there.

 Christopher's graduation party was held at his grandparent's house and it is located right beside House Mountain Chapel, which is where our church used to meet before our building was built on Valley Pike. I had never been in there before and it was really neat to see. I also got a picture of Rachel, Bekah, and Alexis sitting on one of the pews too.

 This morning we also had Graduate Recognition Sunday. We recognized Josh, Olivia and Christopher in the morning service and presented each one with a new study Bible.

 Congratulations to all our graduates this year including those who graduated this year and are moving up to middle school or high school as well! We pray God's blessings on your lives and that He will do great things in and through each of your lives!
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."                              Jeremiah 29:11