Birthday Parties

Once again we have another busy week. We celebrated two special little girls' birthdays this past weekend. My sister's little girl, Emily, celebrated her first birthday, and Matt's sister's little girl, Brynnlee, celebrated her first birthday. Although they are only two months younger than Izabelle it seems like they are only a few months old. Time really does fly.

Here are some pictures of the birthday girls.

More to post.

Busy...Busy...Busy

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. We have been busy the past week. We have been busy with visiting my brother, going to a birthday party, church, and more visiting with my brother. Last week I only worked two days, so I spent some of those days off at my mom and dad's.

Last Monday my mom, the girls, and I went to get Manicures and Pedicures at Hollywood Nails in Jasper. This was the first time for Gracie and she was really nervous and shy. I don't know why, she usually is outgoing. Maybe because she couldn't understand their native tongue or maybe it's because she had a man instead of a woman doing them. It ended up that my mom switched her. She picked out her nail color and design all by herself. I was very pleased of the outcome. She was so proud of her nails. Izabelle went with us and she just sat on my lap watching them go to work on mommy. After we did that, we went to Wal-Mart and did some shopping.

So, later in the week, we went back out there to visit more with Grant and Izabelle was actually warming up to him (at first she didn't know what to think). She does that to guys. She just stares at them and bats her big brown eyes, it's really cute.

Friday, we were invited to a Birthday Party for my friend, Jamie's daughter, Ava's 5th birthday. This is Gracie's best friend. They had an inflatable waterslide for everyone to enjoy. Gracie was disapointed that she couldn't go, but Saturday she was feeling a lot better, so we went over there to spend the day with Ava and Gracie had a blast. After Izabelle's nap I went and got her and she came and played with the other kids. She really likes Jamie's little boy Jake. She did keep staring at Jamie's husband Shad. Again batting those big brown eyes. To cute!!!!

Later that evening we were suppose to go over to Roy Wagler's because they were having a horse ride and bean supper, but when I called my dad, he said they just got home from the ER. What??? He said that Jake bucked him off and when he went to get a drink from my uncle Jake stepped on his big toe and tore the nail off. The doctor put a stitch on each side of the toe nail, so that the new nail will have something to attach to. GROSS!!!!! But when my dad's nurse, well my sister, went to clean it Sunday it didn't look so bad.
Oh, we didn't get to see Grant because he was in Indy, watching the NASCAR race. EXCITING!

We have another busy weekend ahead of us...Friday I am taking off and going to Evansville, to either the Evansville zoo, Childern's museum, or Burdette Park to swim.

Then we are having a 1st Birthday party for my neice Emily on Saturday, two birthday's on Sunday...1st Birthday party for Matt's neice Brynlee (sorry if it is spelled wrong) and friends of ours their daughter will be celebrating her birthday. Then another one the same day, then Small Groups Sunday evening.

I think I will need to take Monday off to recuperate. WHOOO!!!!

My BROTHER is Home...well for 15 days that is

Well, most of you know that my baby brother has been overseas since March. And alot of you have prayed with us that we would hear from him and he would make it home safely. Well he arrived in Indiana on Saturday morning, to start his two weeks of R&R time. He looks so good...I did have to tease him though, I figured he would have a tan, but he was just as pale as me. He said that he works during the night and wears long sleeves, so I don't think he has seen much sun. We spent alittle bit of Saturday and Sunday with him, just catch up on little tidbits (I was actually glad to hear that he checks my Facebook account to keep in contact with us).

He was teasing us because we were complaining about how hot is was over the weekend, but he said that it was actually cool and he enjoyed it. Are you kidding me? He said that the day he left it was 130 degrees...could you image? I guess I need to stop complaining and just enjoy the 90 degree weather and be thankful that it isn't 130. We really don't have anything planned, we just want him to enjoy his time here...I am just glad that he is home. I told him that I was going to take everyday off, so that I can stalk him, that way he will have enough "Jess Time" to last him until Christmas.

I am sure I will be posting some pictures on him and the rest of the family on here. So stayed tuned.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Last Sunday, July 13th, Matt and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has been 6 years since Matt and I took our vows, 10 years since our...I mean my friends asked us if we wanted to start dating.

Let me start at the very beginning...

Way back, I mean way back...It was at a birthday party (back in 1997) and I told my friends that I thought that Matt was cute and sweet. Well, little did I know that they would blab it to Matt that Monday at school. They all went off campus to eat lunch, leaving me behind and they had asked Matt if he liked me. I guess he said "yes", well at least that is what my friends say. According to Matt he doesn't remember any of this.

About a week later at a volleyball game, once again my friends (Jenny and Sheena) had to help us along and got Matt and I in the hallway...I think they were hoping we would just talk, but that didn't end up happening. Matt and I were both shy and little embarrassed by my friends that we just stood there. This is how it all happene: My friends "Do you like Jessica?" Matt-"yeah, sure"..."Jessica do you like Matt?"..."Yeah"..."Do you guys want to be boyfriend and girlfriend?" Both of us "Sure". So, that night Matt and I started dating...it was a little strange at first. I remember getting phone calls from Matt, but he was always so secretative. One time he even called me from inside of his dad's truck, because he didn't want anyone to listen. Even at school we barely talked to each other. Looking a back, I just smile because of how shy we were.

Funny, I know. But that is how it all began. I do have to give all the credit to Sheena and Jenny for blabbing, because if it wasn't for them...I don't think I would have done it myself. Who knows where I would be at. So Thank you!

So, 10 years down the road, 6 of them being married and 2 beautiful daughters later...WHOA!!!! We are still as much in love as the day we said "I do".

I would also like to 'THANK' our parents for being such great role models to us. They truly are the greatest and we sometimes don't say that enough. WE LOVE YOU!

The slide shows us through the years.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

That Missing Piece

“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.”

Jeremiah 17:14

I got this verse off of a friend's blog that fits what has been happening in my life and how I got to the place where I am today that I would like to share. I don’t know why I have this urge to write my feelings on a blog that people will read (if people do read this blog), but I guess it is always good to let people know how you get to where you are, and maybe help someone get there too.

Have you ever felt like something is missing in your life? I have been feeling this emptiness inside of me that I couldn’t explain, something that was missing. I have been having this feeling for quite some time and on New Year’s Eve (my resolution); I vowed that I am going to search of this missing piece. I started by not letting certain things get to me, for instance if someone said something to me that offended me or when someone did something that I didn’t agree with or didn’t understand, I needed to have this ‘just let it go’ attitude and not dwell upon it (easier said than done). So, I made this list up that I wanted to work on, to improve myself and fulfill that missing piece.

It wasn’t until about Feburary that Matt and I decided that we needed to start to go to church more than occasionally…Another step in trying to find that missing piece. We wanted to set an example for our daughters (and future child (ren)) that we need to go to church and learn. We always believed in God and Jesus, but I don’t think that we really included him into our lives unless we needed something. We would pray to him to help us when we were sick or if someone was hurt. Sometimes thanking him for our wonderful life. But I don’t think I really let God and Jesus into my life.

Until couple of months ago…somethings happened throughout those past months that personally I just could not let go. I tried, but the more I thought of it the angrier I got. I did not like that feeling, my heart just ached. I loved my family and friends dearly, but I just could not shake this feeling, that it made my life harder. I was in a bad mood, I didn’t enjoy the happier moments in life, I was just not happy, I was just miserable. I needed to put my foot down and say ‘Enough is enough’. And I did just that, I would see my friends that were happy (even if something bad had happened, they were still happy and secure within themselves) and I would wonder ‘what do they have’. Then a light went off. They had that ‘missing piece’ I have been looking for—GOD! Yes, I looked upon God to help me, guide me to the right way of life, to lift this feeling from my heart. Let me tell you as soon as I did I felt lighter, I felt overjoyed, and it seems that I have this whole new look on life.

Not saying that I am perfect, by all means I am not and I am still learning from God, and will continue to learn through him all the days of my life. I am still struggling with ‘letting go’ of things, but I look upon God to help guide me.

FAMILY

We had such a great 4th of July, although we haven't heard anything from Grant in awhile we know in our hearts that he is okay (plus we have people over there keeping an watchful eye out for us, not to mention that we know that God is watching over him as well).
Well Thursday my mom, my cousin Jacy, and I went to Evansville for an appointment and some much needed shopping. While we were in E-ville Aunt Kaycee took Gracie to see Boggs fireworks at Megan's house...Gracie was so excited that there was a little girl there that she knew, and then from there they went to the camper and spent the night...Gracie was so excited.
Friday we went out to my mom and dads' to spend time with them and went out to pet the horses (yes, mom and dad have horses now, four of them to be exact). Gracie loved feeding them carrots and grass. Izabelle wanted so bad to pet them, but as soon as she got close to them she would pull her hand back. It was really funny.
Then we went up to Matt's uncles' house to celebrate with his family. Most of his cousins were there (some out of state that we haven't seen in quite a while). We enjoyed the golf cart rides, Blitz, and much needed visit with family.
Aunt Kaycee, Gracie, and Lindsey
Dad and Iz
All the girls of the family (minus Brynnlee and Izabelle)
The girls going on a ride.


Saturday we met everyone at Knepp's for breakfast, then went home and cleaned.
Sunday we went to church, came home and finished our cleaning. Aunt Kaycee came and got Gracie and went swimming at Lauren's (Wauren's, as Grace would say) grandma's pool. She loves to swim.
Loving the water.
Takin a break
Check out the pose



Then later that night we had our church's small group meeting, the kids had fun playing downstairs while the adults talked (Thanks to two of my Vikettes for coming over to helping us).

Fourth of July

Fourth of July is just around the corner. So most of you, like me, will be going to cook outs, firework shows, etc. But this year, my family will be looking at the Fourth of July a little differently. Most of you know that this is my brother's second tour overseas. And he is truly missed each day and everyday he is over there. We try to keep him updated as much as we can by emails, facebook, and of course this blog, so that he doesn't seem like he is missing so much. I wanted to just take a moment to express my gratitude to my brother and our military for their sacrifaces (along with their families) that they are making for me and my family...For us.

I am extremely proud of my brother for serving this country, so that we all have the freedom to be "free". A place that his neices and nephew can be able to express themselves when they get older, a place for them to feel safe and secure. A place where can openly talk out our faith without be prosecuted. I thank him and the rest of the military for doing this for all of America. We sometimes forget that we have military and that this is their job and they can't take a day off to enjoy a hamburger with all the toppings with their families and watch fireworks in the night sky. They are working to protect us. We saw the military work this pass month to help our community and other communities when floodwaters were on the verge of threatening homes and crops. We had military that came right after training and had no sleep to come and help this community and stand beside locals to acheive a goal. And sometimes I, myself, forget to stop and think about this and Thank them for their duties. I sometimes forget that They too have families, please think of them and thank them for what they are doing for us.

THANK YOU, for everything.

Please keep Grant and all military personel in your hearts, prayers and thoughts.