C.A.P.E. Arkansas

We Have Moved

2011-09-04T20:43:00.001-05:00

blogs that is....come see us at www.acearkansas.blogspot.com to meet our newest addition; sweet little baby boy Austin...

Reality hits...or does it

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000-05:00

We are having a baby. Tomorrow. Yesterday I had my pre-op and blood work. Scheduled c-section. As I'm getting ready to leave they put this bracelet on me and tell me to wear it until I come back to have my baby. Wow. Have a baby, scheduled, a time, a place, planned everything. It's crazy I tell you. It's nice in some areas; my parents are here, Paul's mom is here which is awesome; we knew it was our last night with just 2 kids; which was great, and we were fortunate to have Ethan and spend that time with him. Everyone is excited, so am I. But has reality really hit? Hm. Probably not. Am I ready? Yeah. We got this.

Next post will be at our new blog....C.A.P.E. will not fit anymore...

Courtney's 1st Day of School

2011-08-17T12:41:00.000-05:00

Our sweet baby started K-4 today. Pretty much kindergarten minus 2 days. She will be gone 3 days a week from 8-3. Oh. My. Word. Do you ever do something so far in advance and as it gets closer you REALLY start to question yourself? Well, I do that all the time. It's how I stay commented to things to be honest. So, we signed her up months ago. We have gotten ready over the past few weeks...uniform clothes, backpack monogrammed, matching bows, meet the teacher, school supply shopping..."we" were ready. But was I really? Is she really? I have spent the last 4 years with Courtney pretty much every day. She has gone to Mom's Day Out programs for a couple of years, but those are for a few hours and mostly for her to play. She is in school now, learning, playing, and growing...without me. It's ok and I'm ok, but I am NOT one of those moms who can't wait to ship their kids off. If I had it my way we would home school...but Paul thinks home school is for weirdos...I do not. So, day 1 is going well. Other than I found out she can not wear the brand of shoes I bought her. Toms. Really. The cutest shoes ever. Today is is breaking dress code and tomorrow we will be on track. I'm so not a rule breaker either. She is in a Christian Private school and I thank God that we are blessed enough to put her there. It is much easier to send your sweet baby off for the day when you know she is surrounded by people who love Jesus and will love her.

It's raining....It's pouring...let her play!

2011-08-17T12:26:00.000-05:00

When it rains in the summer time I send Courtney outside. Sound strange? Not to us. It's so much fun to watch her play in the rain. The smiles I capture (on camera and in my heart) are priceless. I. Love. Her.

Riding...Pursley Style

2011-08-17T12:19:00.000-05:00

Our kids LOVE riding. I must say that I am thrilled, even having a 4 year old girl who loves it. I 'grew up' riding and going riding and had so much fun. So when you see your own kids enjoy the same things, it makes it that much more exciting. Now, with Courtney, I get nervous. She is an amazing rider, she just gets it. She has the natural ability to drive, ride, race, etc. She knows how to correct the bike if it's going to fall, she grabs the breaks when she is going to run into something (usually) and she just gets it. BUT, as a mom, it still can be stressful to watch her as she is trying to 'win' and almost rolls her 4-wheeler. She hasn't yet, but I'm sure the day is near. Hence, she wears full riding gear...even in the back yard.

Summer 2011

2011-08-04T15:19:00.001-05:00

Summer 2011...where have you gone? I can not believe this summer is almost over. It feels like it just began. We had an amazing summer filled with fun as usual. I am SO blessed to be able to stay at home with my children and soak in every minute of their childhood. We spent A LOT of time at the pool; thankful for my FAC membership! (if you need a good gym for the summer, check them out!) We went to CA for a week and had a great time. Ethan learned how to surf which was his goal for the summer. Courtney went to her first VBS which she loved and didn't understand why it was only for a few days. We ate TONS of Frozen Tung snow cones. We watched mommy's belly grow and got a few more pictures of Austin in there...with this big lips. We played dress up. We had crazy hair days. We took tons of fun pictures. Courtney got a new car seat (she picked pink) which I am SO happy I can finally use the insert I ordered 2 years ago with her initials on it. Ethan grew his hair all summer and I couldn't take it anymore so he got a super cute hair cut. We painted. We saw awesome fireworks. We spent a lot of time on the lake. Courtney is a master waterskier now. I sewed. A lot. We had extreme weather. We made a "count down to Austin" chart. We watched Hadley, super cute baby! We made a super fun cake for Daddy's birthday (the big 35!). We had an amazing summer.

My $30 Maternity Pictures

2011-07-07T20:10:00.000-05:00

Sooo. Maternity pictures. To get them or not. $250...cheapest price around I could find. And that doesn't include prints. So, being the photographer I am. I took my own. I drove on down to Bedfords and picked up a $30 remote for my Canon 60D and set up a little studio. Right here in the living room. I figured it was worth a shot. Right? And I believe they turned out pretty darn good. We still have 7 weeks until we get to see sweet Austin face to face, so this was a great way to pass some time and make some new memories with Courtney.

Ethan in June

2011-06-20T18:03:00.000-05:00

As you can tell, I am obsessed with pictures. Usually pictures of Courtney as we spend, well, about 16 hours a day together. I am blessed to have such a beautiful daughter who doesn't mind me being obsessed with having pictures of her. Ethan on the other hand, equally as gorgeous...not as equally excited about me taking pictures of him so often. So, with our limited amount of time with Ethan, and him being a boy...there are many less pictures. Soooo, I tried to make up for it the other day. We set up a 'mini studio' in the living room and I shot tons of pictures of him, just him...well, and his yo-yo. The boy LOVES his yo-yo and if I must say, he is quite good at it too. Here are a few of the pictures we took....he is pretty darn handsome!

2nd Trimester Pictures

2011-06-12T16:51:00.001-05:00

Yes, we have entered the 3rd trimester. This pregnancy has really gone by fast. Looking at the calendar and having only 10 weeks left is crazy...seems like just yesterday we were only 10 weeks along. So here are the 2nd trimester belly pics. There was a big change from last month to this month...and boy can I feel it!

March 24, 2011

April 24, 2011

May 24, 2011

Courtney's 4th bday party(s)

2011-06-09T17:40:00.000-05:00

I have got to get better at blogging again! As I'm organizing pictures I noticed I didn't get around to putting Courtney's 4th bday pics up. What a failure! So, it's a month later and here they are. We had our first 'friend' party this year at our house and we will forever do it that way. She had a blast, her favorite little friends made it and it didn't cost a lot of money! What more could you ask for? Since her bday was during the week, her party was on the weekend but Kaylee, Nana, Bopa and Auntie Shannon all came up on the 10th to celebrate on the day. We started that day with pictures of Courtney and Kaylee which was so much fun...and I still need to edit/post those pics! Then we headed to the Boingo Bounce where the girls had a blast!

Courtney is FOUR!

2011-06-05T10:09:00.001-05:00

Our sweet baby is 4; which is absolutely crazy to think about. I have had the best time being her mommy, she truly brightens my day from the moment she comes in to tell me it's time to get up because it's morning. Even if that comes at 6 AM some times. One of my favorite things about her is how thoughtful she is. She will randomly tell me or Daddy that she likes our shirt, our that we look cute. She asks if we need help and is generally a good sweet kid. She has a heart for God and loves to learn more about Him as much as we will teach her. Here are some of her 4 year old pictures I took the other day which I must say are A D O R A B L E. Gotta love her! She LOVES barns, so we thought this was the perfect spot. Thanks, Bopa for the big 4! :-)

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T15:58:00.000-05:00

I mean, seriously, could our children get any cuter? I am blessed to have children who don't give me "the look" when I tell them I want to take, yet another, picture of them. The just put on their smiles, stand where I tell them to, put their hands where I say and make yet another adorable picture.

A few days ago as Easter was approaching we asked Courtney what Easter is about and she quickly replied "it's when the Easter Bunny brings me eggs". She's 3 mind you, but that was no excuse. So we explained to her it was the day Jesus came back to life and she says "oh, after he died on the cross to forgive our sins". Yes, she got it, we are not failure parents...I am so thankful to have 2 children who love the Lord, who aren't shy when it comes to their faith and who are anxious to learn more. I am more thankful for a God who sent His son to die on the cross and to raise again on our "Easter" day.

Here are a few pictures from Courtney's egg hunt at school this year.

5 1/2 months pregnant...not fat faced. :-)

Kids dying eggs...always fun. Cleaner this year too!

First "look" at our baby....BOY!

2011-04-18T15:21:00.000-05:00

Seriously, it's been 5 years since we had an ultrasound. 5 years. Not 25, 5. They have come so far! I am not medically "smart". Honestly, with Courtney, I took their word for it that she was a girl because I could not tell. At all. Looking at her ultrasound pictures now, I still can't! Her little foot and spine are about all I could make out for sure. Oh, it's changed. I think even Courtney could tell her little brother's parts the other day! :-) So, it's official, he is a boy. He was NOT shy and we are excited to know and stop calling him "it". Ethan is also excited, he finally gets a brother! Courtney, not so much. A few tid bits from the mind of a 3 year old who really wanted a sister....On the phone with my mom...all I hear is "NO, Nana...I really am NOT excited that its a boy. I really wanted a sister." Talking to me later ME: "Baby, I'm sorry you aren't excited that our baby is a boy." Courtney: "It's ok, I will still love him and sing to him and read to him and help you feed him BUT I really don't WANT him." Courtney talking to my belly "I still love you, even if you are a boy". Oh, how I love her. She will be great with him, I just know it. But for now, we let her process and be ok and laugh at how her little mind works.

Here he is......Austin Dale!

Gotta love God

2011-04-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

Today was an emotional day in church. Before the sermon even starts I have tears running down my face. It still amazes me how God uses different things to speak to us. How He uses different ways to teach us. How He uses things of our every day life to change our way of thinking or even make us understand why we think a certain way. Today He used this song. "Our God". Honestly, I hear this song probably every day of my life and we have been singing it in church the last 3 Sundays. But today was different, He brought these words straight to my heart. Especially the bridge (in red).

Water You turned into wine

Open the eyes of the blind

There’s no one like You

None like You

Into the darkness You shine

Out of the ashes we rise

There’s no one like You

None like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining

Out of the ashes we Rise

There’s no One like You

None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Think about it. If our God is for us. What could stop us? God is on our side. Nothing is stronger, nothing is more powerful, nothing could be a better "on your side" defense.

Courtney starts socer

2011-04-04T12:34:00.000-05:00

Saturday was Courtney's first day of soccer. Seriously, the cutest thing I have ever seen! She has started "First Touch" soccer in Fayetteville and she loves it. This league is super cute. No teams. No "games". All the kids wear these (ugly) orange and blue shirts, they do some "practice" and then they split up and scrimmage. At almost 4, you never really know what your child will like or be good at or want to do. So, you take a shot at it and hope for the best. She loved it and so did I! I was very proud of how she paid attention to the coaches and was also having a blast. We are excited to see her progress as the month goes by and she is already excited for her next game on Thursday. Did I mention how A D O R A B L E she was in her little soccer gear?!?! I. Love. Her.

With one of her best buds Lucas.

Update and random pictures

2011-03-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Courtney has recovered I would say, from her tonsil surgery. She had days of ups and downs for about a week then about a week of some weird, rough dreams/nights and I would say she is back to our normal little girl. Other than she can breath at night (without sounding like a 65 year old man), I no longer worry when I don't hear her breathing because I know she really is breathing and yes, she still sounds like a chipmunk. We are hoping that last part with go back to normal but will not mind either way. She is one tough little girl and we are so proud of her. She lost about 4 lbs over the 2 weeks and is on her way to gaining it back and more by the way she is eating! We sure do love her!

Last week we were able to go to the park! It was beautiful!

This is Courtney's new thing...what color bath she will take. Walmart sells these little pellets that change the color of the water, and nothing else! She loves them and it makes bath time all that much more exciting for her. As you can see by the walls, we are all about fun bath times...we also have the handy bath markers that Walmart sells. Love them!

One night after surgery she was watching a movie in her "tent" (thank you Slaughter family for such a wonderful gift!) and this is how I found her. So precious.

Our little fashion queen.

Ok, seriously, it was 80 degrees last weekend...this weekend back to freezing, but last weekend, not so much. Last summer Courtney had so much fun on her slip and slide, so I got her a new one. The water was REALLY cold, but she still had a blast. I can't wait for summer days to be here.

Courtney LOVES her Daddy. Loves, Loves, Loves him. You can tell with the way she smiles when she interacts with him. I love to take bazilions of pictures of them...nothing like looking back at those times when she is older.

"I want my Mommy"

2011-03-10T17:28:00.000-06:00

That is the greatest sound ever. I have heard my sweet baby say that since she could talk. It's strange to say it's the greatest sound ever because it is a sound only heard when she is in need, and often in pain. But for some reason, it brings tears to my eyes when I replay it in my mind. Maybe because I know I am needed, someone really needs me, someone feels like I am the only way to feel better or comforted at a certain time. Maybe it's because I know I can help, through time I have learned that when I hear those words, I can do something. Usually it's just a hug and rubbing her head, or singing "her song" softly in her ear. But I know I can help.

The most recent "I want my Mommy" event was yesterday when our sweet baby girl (I know, she's almost 4, but she is still our baby) had her tonsils out. She needed it done, she's needed it done for a while. It didn't make it any easier to actually have it done. They wheeled her away with a hug and a kiss and an I love you and of course a smile.

The next we see her she is waking up from being put out and is crying "I want my Mommy". My heart sinks as I see the tears in her eyes. I climb up on her hospital bed and do what a Mommy does best; comfort her, take her mind off what is bothering her (the IV at this point) and make her feel love. It works, it hasn't failed me yet. And thus, I love being a Mommy. And through the tough times of her life, I pray she will always cry out to me "I want my Mommy".

Good-bye 1st trimester...WELCOME 2nd trimester

2011-03-01T16:07:00.000-06:00

I can not believe it has 3 months already! We always seem to find out the second we are pregnant so being pregnant is a really long time but honestly, it is going by pretty quick. Yesterday marked the 1st day of the 2nd trimester which is always anticipated as the 1st trimester is not fun... nausea, too many trips to the bathroom, feeling pregnant but not looking pregnant....etc. They call the 2nd trimester the joyful trimester. I sure hope "they" are right this time. I am feeling better already, not so sick, more energy and SO glad to be really showing...not just the "pregnant or too many cookies" look. I was horrible at keeping a picture update with Courtney, I seriously have maybe 4 pictures the entire pregnancy, so this time I wanted to show as I grow. Awe, looking at that first picture, flat belly....bye bye. It left so quickly this time. 4 pack up top, baby belly down low. Oh well, it will come back.We go back to the Dr on the 16th and will schedule our first ultrasound that day. Soooo, hopefully in 3 weeks or so we will know if we are having a boy or a girl! Courtney is dead set on a girl. When I pray for our baby, if I say "he" she quickly corrects me. When we talk about the baby, she continues to say "I sure hope it's a girl". She says she will love a baby boy but really wants a little sister. Ethan on the other hand, dead set the other way. He wants a boy and there is no other way it will be. Well, not having twins, so one will not get their way. Either way, Paul and I are excited and even have a name if it is a boy! And no, it's not what anyone will think. So there!

Baby Pursley Update

2011-02-17T18:06:00.000-06:00

We are happy to say, the baby has a heartbeat! We are now 12 weeks 5 days along and got our first little listen to the baby today. Courtney was with us and she was so excited. I believe she has listened to it 10 times since we left the doctor's office. We also got the initial blood work back and all is well! Good news and a great day. I am starting to show already...have actually been for a couple weeks but I'm good at hiding it I guess. That is getting a little tougher to do these days. I am looking forward to a bigger bump that is not questionable (fat or pregnant). My nausea is off and on but will hopefully be gone soon. Though we are measuring at 14 weeks which is the 2nd trimester, we aren't technically there yet. So maybe 2 more weeks and I'll be to the 'happy trimester'.

Christmas 2010 and BIG news!

2011-01-01T22:25:00.000-06:00

Another year comes to an end. Another amazing year with an amazing end. Here are our Christmas pictures from this year.

2nd to last post

2010-12-26T23:29:00.000-06:00

Final post other than our Christmas post. So I guess it's not our final post...oh well. Here are the final pictures for the year. The year of not blogging enough.

I have fallen in love with sewing. Yes. Me. Sewing. I love it. I began over a year ago with a nap mat for Courtney, I believe I blogged about it. Then over a year later I finally got my sewing machine out and made an apron for Courtney. This is not it. This is for her friend Lucas Foliart. But it is the same idea. Super cute, super fun and totally reversible!

Courtney LOVES babies. This is our friend's baby, who's name has totally slipped my mind. She is 7 weeks old here and Courtney LOVES to hold her. Just hold her. It is absolutely precious.

Ethan's 4th grade class. They are all getting so big!

Our visit to see Santa...a stop at the sunglass station. NO. We didn't buy them.

Simply precious.

the brokenhearted

2010-12-10T16:59:00.000-06:00

Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

This verse rings true when I think about my trip. One of the things that hit me most from my trip was the homeless and the love from Christ. Some times as we go about out daily lives, filled with errands and chores, work and play, we find Christ's love on the back burner. Not where it was intended to be. Some of the people I came across had nothing, nothing to do the next day, no job to go to, no family to kiss good night, no floor to mop, no food to eat. But they had the love of Christ. Someone said that sometimes it takes having nothing to have Christ. They don't need to "make room" for him as we some times do, all they have is room. I am so humbled to hear a homeless man profess Christ's love and forgiveness.

My First Mission Trip

2010-12-09T10:05:00.000-06:00

As I prayed about my 'first mission trip' I asked God to lead me, lead me where he wants me to go. I had contemplated Africa...too much I thought. Then this trip to Los Angeles came up at our church and I thought "perfect, I'll start small". As the trip got closer I felt bad..."a mission trip to Los Angeles, CA...really?". I felt dumb even saying it. Most people thought it was more of a vacation than a mission/outreach trip. I must say, I was embarrassed to say that was where I was going but still excited to see where God was taking me. We left Thursday afternoon. Arrived at LAX and sat in traffic for nearly 1.5 hours to get to church by 7. Our first experience in CA was one of the most incredible church services I have ever been to. As we walk in the Angelus Temple, it is not the same as what we see on a normal Sunday. There are security guards all over, there are homeless men and women in the sanctuary, there are 'gangster' looking guys, crippled men and women, people from every ethnicity you can probably think of. But all with one goal. To worship Jesus. And let me tell you, I don't just mean worship Jesus like sing the lyrics on the screen, or hold their hymnal and sing the words as though they have sang them a thousand times. I mean WORSHIP JESUS. Take away the hands raised, some people think that's weird. Take away the jumping up and down, again, some people think that's weird. The pure presence in the room was something I can not describe. The smiles on the faces of people that clearly have nothing to return to, you can feel God looking down on the congregation with tears in his eyes out of joy. I have literary never experienced something like this service. Looking around seeing young and old, well dressed to rags, freshly showered to couldn't remember the last shower. It was amazing.

From there we went to the Dream Center where we would be staying for the next 3 nights. This place is incredible...the work they are doing in the community is something that I really can't even describe. We did all of our outreach missions through the Dream Center...though we only did a few as we were only there 2 days, I was amazed by what this place does. I would suggest going online and reading about it.

On Friday my team went on a outreach call "Project Prevention". What this is for is families who are close to losing their children due to poverty issues. DHS in California contacts the Dream Center and works with them to keep these children in their homes. We went 5 different "homes"...I say "homes" because it is nothing near what we consider a home. As I sit here on my couch, in my living room, looking down one hallway of my house, my kitchen off to my right, Christmas tree to my left, stocking hung on our fireplace I am reminded of how much less of a 'home' these people had. One place we went into did not even have a 'living room' big enough for a couch. A small hallway lead to I am assuming very small bedrooms and a bathroom. We took these families food, tons of food and they were thankful. We prayed with them, we loved on their children, we let them know they are loved. See, without this food, the 1 year old little girl I held, would be taken from her Mommy. Without that food, that home would be broken, heart would be broken, lives would be devastated. And that was just one place. As we traveled around East Los Angeles we got to see first hand the "rough areas"...and they are rough. One of the girls who was with us told us that some times their rent is as little as $50...and they can not afford that. $50 rings in my head...I spend that on jeans! I don't get out of Wal-Mart without spending $50 most of the time...and that could pay some one's rent?! My heart was broken. It took me from a usual judgmental place, where my mind says "they could do better, they could make better choices" to "they too are children of God, they too are in need of God's love, it doesn't matter what their circumstance".

Friday night...this was honestly the main thing I wanted to do while we were there. I didn't really know why, but it's where God lead me...where my heart was being pulled and now I know why. Saturday night was "skid row". Being from CA, I know what that means...well, I thought I did. Skid row is blocks of homeless people. I thought it was one street. Skid Row is people sleeping on the sidewalks, tents on the sidewalk, sleeping bags on the sidewalk, blankets on the sidewalk and sometimes just a body on the sidewalk. No pillows, no heaters, no bathrooms, no drink of water in the middle of the night, NO security from anything. As we prepared to go to skid row, they handed us cereal bars and ginger ale in a can. We could give a homeless person 1 of each until we ran out. A cereal bar and a non name brand ginger ale people! And they were thankful for it. They wanted more of it, they returned a "God Bless You" for a cereal bar and ginger ale! As we walked along the streets of skid row my heart was broken. The first couple of people I stopped to talk to was 2 hispanic guys, maybe 25. Nice jeans, nice shoes...sitting on the rest of their belongings in a white trash bag. They would be sleeping there that night. I spoke such broken Spanish I could not explain to them what I was trying to say. The Dream Center has buses that will pick them up for church. I wanted them to know that. I eventually got an interpreter from our group and she let them know. They smiles on their faces were worth gold. They were thankful that I took the time to talk with them and invited them to church. They let us pray for them, I gave them a hug and went on. The next guy I talked to had been there a while. Not as nice of clothes, dirty, and on less of a trash bag full of clothes. I asked him if I could pray for him. He said yes. I asked what I can pray for. He started crying. He cried and told me he loves Jesus, he wants to make the right choices, he doesn't want to sin anymore. This man was sitting on Skid Row, with no home and he asked me to ask Jesus for forgiveness for him and for conviction to make the right choices. He didn't ask me to pray for a home for him to go to, a bed for him to lay in, a shower for him to get clean in...he asked me for forgiveness. Breaks my heart but at the same time gives me such hope. That seemed to be most of the people I talked to down there. They loved Jesus! They knew he was waiting for them in heaven and they were thankful. They didn't complain about their situation, they were thankful for God, while they had nothing. That part was amazing. Then there were the drugs, the prostitution, the drunkenness....I saw it all. And it's not like the movies. It's dirty, it smells, the prostitutes are 5'7" gorgeous women. Here is a text I sent to my husband when we got back from Skid Row that night: "Tonight I walked down blocks of homeless people. Gave out cereal bars and sodas. Prayed with people who will sleep on the street but had conviction for their sins. Listened to stories of a great God as they walked back to their plastic bag of belongings. Saw people peeing on the ground. Saw drugs, prostitutes and even prostitutes in vans in the act. I saw only one child. Maybe 4. In a car, front seat. While her mom made a drug deal. Hearing her say 'mommy'. On skid row. The least of her worries is a lack of a car seat. I was not scared. I embraced the situation and was blessed myself. To know God is great. To remember I am blessed beyond belief. A homeless man says he prays for us, the people who come bring them them things and love on them. He says "no house, no job, no food, no bed...but the homeless can pray too" he was appreciative enough to let us know he is doing the same for us. Another guy. Maybe my age. Barely spoke English. Nice shoes, nice clothes. But will sleep on the street tonight. Hoping he will have a job next week. Eager to try the church here. Thanking me over and over. God is changing me. God is using me."

The last day was the projects. Poorest of the poor. One step away from homeless. I played with kids that day. I held little girls, played soccer and basketball with the little boys. They laughed, they smiled and when we left...they want back to their poverty ridden homes and back to their every day life. As we walked to deliver food to the people who could not come out to get it we came across a family who had lost their son. The story was on Tuesday (we were there on Saturday) their little boy of 14 was beaten to death for his ipod. As we walk up, most of us with our i-Phone in our pockets, reality is all of a sudden so real. Reality is usually on tv, or the news, but that day it was right in our face. A memorial on the fence outside their apartment. A picture of a boy with the biggest smile I have ever seen. A memorial with flowers, candles and a Bible verse, a Psalm written out in English and Spanish. Some of our team went into the parent's home to talk with them. They later told us the parents, heart broken are praying to God, thanking them for allowing them to be parents for 14 years. As their hearts are broken over the death of their only son, they are finding things to rejoice in, things to still thank God for. Amazing to me.

So, now...I don't feel dumb saying I went on a mission trip to Los Angeles. Now, I know why God sent me there and I am more than thankful that I listened.....more to come...

Our sleeping quarters...

This is hanging at the Angelus Temple in the Kids church...I LOVE IT!

Playing with the kids while we visited the projects of East LA

Little boy, maybe 2. No parents out...they let him go out and around with his older brother....who is maybe 4. Its a different life.

Another Year Coming To An End

2010-11-27T22:17:00.001-06:00

My, oh, my...another year is coming to an end. I think December is in like 4 days...how many days does November have? Either way...1 more month of 2010 and I have been a horrible blogger! I began printing our blog each year, well, I printed 2 years last year and I will be printing it again at the end of this year...I wish I would have done better blogging. I feel like I missed so many things to share in print with the kids. Am I a bad mom? I feel like a bad mom. I will most likely go through and post a bazillion pictures and they can just ask me about them when they are older. And when I am much older I will tell them all about them and get names mixed up and tell stories over and over, some that are right and some that I probably will make up in my old little mind and again I will think I am a bad mom, I should have blogged more. At 85, do you think I will remember blogging? Oh, I hope so. Maybe I'll be an 85 year old blogger and my children will still be getting "blog-to-print" books...oh, I can't wait!

Some random pics to share with the kids:

Told ya. Random.

a calm Christian?

2010-11-01T11:56:00.000-05:00

So I have been pondering what to write for a while. I know I want to write but it doesn't seem to come to me so I wait. Today something deep happened and I think it's time. A big reason I write this blog is for Courtney. I have a fear that something will happen to me before she is old enough to explain things to so I write to her. I keep track of special events for her, I tell her through a blog and a journal just for her about things that are exciting and things I believe and ways she is and things I love about her and our family and about the Bible and God. So, this isn't for you, or anyone really other than her and Ethan some day but maybe it will help someone else out there too.

Now living in the "Bible belt" we are always hearing radical stories from Christians. Drastic life changing things. Amazing life stories I must admit. Salvation stories that will make you cry. It's an awesome thing to be in, to hear, to see yourself with your own eyes. But what about the "calm Christian"? What about the person that wasn't headed down the worst road you could think of before God reached him/her? What about the person who's story doesn't make you cry, who's story isn't dramatic or radical? Well, I have realized first, that ANY salvation story is radical. ANY work of God is absolutely amazing. But I have also realized that it doesn't have to be radical in the eyes of our world to mean something. I was raised "Christian". We were Lutherans, we went to Church growing up (when I lived with my Dad). We prayed "now I lay me" at night when I was a child. I know my parents were believers and the same for my Grandparents. I went to a Lutheran school for a few years in elementary school, and I knew the basics of the Bible. Growing up God wasn't a huge part of my life though, and honestly, I didn't own a Bible until a pastor gave me one when I was 23. I came to Christ at 23. Yes, I always believed but I didn't accept Christ as a my savior until 23 sitting in a marriage counseling after not even a year of marriage in a Baptist church in Southern California.

Ok, so that's the preface...the point? The point is I don't have a radical story. I don't have a story that will make you cry. I wasn't on a path of no return. I don't even remember the date I was saved! But I was generally a good person. Don't get me wrong, I had issues. I had problems. I drank too much. I did things the Bible specifically says not to do. But I was a good person for the most part. But being a good person doesn't get you to heaven. The point here is there doesn't have to be some huge, big, dramatic, amazing story for you to become a Christian. And honestly, not everyone has that story. I don't get why those are the salvation stories we always hear in church. I'd honestly love to hear some every day Joe stories. I would love to see people get saved because they realize they need it, even though they are generally a good person.

Another example? I just finished doing the Love Dave book. Now, google Love Dare and you will find all sorts of amazing stories how marriages were saved and how the book changed lives in ways you couldn't imagine. And that rocks, and I am thrilled for those people. But I had a much calmer experience. Yes, it changed me. It changed my marriage. Did it save it? No, God probably did that. But it helped and it helped me see things in a different light and that is amazing and radical. But not the worldly way. A year or two ago I probably would have read all the other comments on how it changed their world and been disappointed. But now that I have realized there are calmer Christians, I am just excited that it helped my marriage at all. Because God is at work in me in His way. Maybe one day he will work worldly radical in me, but for today, I'm happy just being a "calm Christian".

Courtney in all her cuteness and my great mission

2010-10-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

I'm on a mission...by the first of the year I will have all my pictures printed that I want printed and in books. I will be caught up to start a new year full of photos that I will once again forget to print. I was editing pictures the other day and I realized I have not printed pictures in months. When you take 12928129 pictures a day that is a lot to catch up on! I also started thinking...when my kids are all grown up, what am I going to give them, a disk to show their kids??? When I go to my parents house I love going through our albums, it brings me back to the moment, makes me remember things I would otherwise never think of...I want that for my kids. I so want that for my kids! As I was editing, I of course found some I have to post!

Last week for church Courtney was dressed down right A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. And on top of that, she was acting adorable. Made for some adorable pictures I might say.

This is the first time she wrote her name all by herseIlf. Mind you I have NEVER sat down to teach her. I know, bad mom, right? You'd think so but before she was three she was writing C O U R T and I had never taught her, so I figured she would pick up on the rest...and as you see, she did. By the way, we LOVE these 'tub crayons'. They are at Wal-Mart for like $3.00 and are awesome. We have so much fun drawing all over the tub. Even leaving it up for a couple of days and it washes right off.

Stolen from Perry Noble...you know it will be good.

2010-10-22T11:56:00.002-05:00

Seven Verses To Look At Regarding Your Marriage! October 20, 2010

Earlier this week I asked our church to read through Philippians 2:1-11 every morning and pray two things…

Jesus, let me see the areas I fall short in serving my spouse…and
Jesus, let me see my spouse through your eyes.

I hope you are doing that and that God is showing you some amazing things. AND…if you want to do a little more reading and studying in the book of Philippians on this subject then I would like to submit seven to you today…(by the way…for those who are unaware of this, if you will just click on the verses listed below they will automatically appear on your screen in another window.)

#1 – Philippians 1:27 – The first word is the one that gets me the most – “whatever!” AND…please keep in mind that the Apostle Paul was in prison when he penned that verse. If Paul can instruct us to keep a good attitude when he was in prison they surely we must strive to do the same…even if we are in a difficult marriage.

#2 – Philippians 2:14 – DANG…notice the word “everything” in this verse! If we would simply submit to this instruction how much better would our marriages be?

#3 – Philippians 3:12-14 – Paul refused to allow the fact that he had fallen short of who he felt God was calling him to be…he was willing to continue the fight! (Everyone is tempted to give up on their marriage at some point…but if we are followers of Jesus we should be willing to fight FOR it and not just in it!)

#4 – Philippians 3:16 – AHHH! Most of the time we already know what we need to do and how we need to do it….we know it but struggle to apply it!

#5 – Philippians 4:5-7 – We should be gentle to all (including our spouse) and not be anxious…but rather present our requests to God, knowing that He wants for us to have a great marriage even more than we would actually like to have one.

#6 – Philippians 4:8 – How we think about our marriage (or future marriage) will definitely impact it…this verse is essential in reminding us to think the right thoughts. (Also see II Corinthians 10:5) We must fight the temptation to constantly think negative thoughts about our spouse and our marriage.

#7 – Philippians 4:13 – “Everything” means “Everything!” Trust me…your messed up marriage situation CAN BE HEALED by Jesus. He specializes in bringing dead things back to life! In Christ our marriage CAN (and SHOULD) work out in order thatEphesians 3:20 should be true about them.

This coming Sunday we will be continuing the “Man Versus Wife” series by taking a look at what the Bible demands of the husband (or husband to be!) Can’t wait…hope you will join us and bring someone with you.

Precious memories.

2010-10-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

So there are some things that are just down right precious to me, and my daughter is one of them. The other day it was gorgeous outside so we headed out to play. She hasn't ridden her bike in so long so I was excited when she wanted to. I grabbed the camera and off we went. I don't know if it was the lighting that day, a mommy moment, or what but these pictures to me are just precious. I always think Courtney is adorable and beautiful but I think these pictures will always stick out for some reason. The pure innocence maybe?

Ethan is TEN!

2010-10-07T13:43:00.001-05:00

I can NOT believe Ethan is TEN, but, well, he is. He had a pretty special birthday this year. Chris, Dennis and Westen drove out in the motor home (also for Grandparent's Day at Shiloh) then we headed to Little Sahara in Oklahoma to the dunes for the weekend. We have some awesome friends that let us borrow a couple of 4-wheelers and we had a blast. Ethan did amazing, we were quite proud of him. If you have never been to the dunes, take a look at the pics below...this is what we were riding on. I didn't take these, I am a horrible mom and didn't take the camera out while we were riding. It was tough riding with no camera. :-)

Courtney/Mommy Day

2010-09-23T15:02:00.000-05:00

***Blogger has a new way to post and I DO NOT LIKE IT!. So. I give up. Horrible posting style. Sorry.

As we all know, I am a stay-at-home mom. My job is to take care of my sweet baby and house. A lot of working mom's would maybe think that every day is just a hang out with your kid day. As much as I'd like to say it is, it isn't. My days are filled with house cleaning, laundry, teaching, organizing, answering questions, grocery shopping...etc. LOVE it. LOVE my job. Yesterday though, I was sitting with Courtney having breakfast and looking at the dishes from breakfast that needed to be done, the beds that need to be made, the pile of laundry in the laundry room that needs to be washed and I decided it all can wait. Courtney and I are going to have a day for just her. No computer, no laundry, no cell phone, no laundry, no dishes, no 'hold on baby, I'm almost done'....just whatever she wanted to do and when she wanted to. Let me tell you, it was awesome! Courtney smiles all day every day, but there was that extra little shine in her eye yesterday and she deserved it.

Ms. Thing ready to go. 60s style?

We then headed to Boingo Bounce for some great times. She is fearless I tell you. From the little kid slide to the 'wave slide' that she literally catches air. She loves them all.

From there we went to Ricks Bakery. She wanted a cupcake, what can I say? :-) For those of you in NWA, you know this is the place to go for any baked goods you need.

Since she dressed herself, she happened to pick shoes that were just a little too small. So we headed to the mall to get new ones. She even got to pick them out. More Twinkle Toes of course. (on sale at Finish Line ladies!)

It was her day, I said yes when she asked to ride this. She'll never be too big!

Jelly Beans. For a quarter. Yes.

She wanted to go home after the mall. We continued to play for the rest of the day and just had a good time laughing and playing. Marsh-mellow before bed, why not!

Last but not least, chocolate milk. Isn't she stinkin' adorable?!?!? I LOVE her!

summer 2010 iphone pictures

2010-09-16T12:30:00.016-05:00

Oh my word! So I ALWAYS have my iphone with me, and I have the pictures to prove it! Here are A LOT of pics from the summer. WOW.

(the best neighbors ever...NY style)

Nephew Carter makes the fridge.

Carter, Kaylee and Courtney at the fair on the flip-n-jump

a friend showed me this...I have GOT to make one for Courtney!

sleeping

our super buys at the Rhea Lana sale

Her first pair of UGG boots...for...ready...$10!!!

Jax just being Jax. Love that boy.

Courtney letting Jax take her for a walk..

Her butt used to be this small?!

Only PART of the baby clothes I have kept and finally gone through to give away.

Concert in LR with my parents for his bday.

Kaylee, Carter and Courtney getting ready to race.

Good ol' morning game of Chutes and Ladders.

Courtney found this outfit drying...it is 6-9 mo!

Her first flowers from Mommy.

Ethan's last day of summer.

Visit with Grandma at Eagle Mountain in Bateville.

Little Kaylee gobbling up her food. She should probably weigh 400 lbs the way she eats, but she is a mere 28.

Sleeping again.

and again.

Heading home from Disney World.

and more sleeping.

her second fall down the stairs of Bopa's motorhome...the first was her face.

getting on the plane to Disney World. She is a flying pro.

Her first trip to Chuck-E-Cheese

Jax and Courtney having a picnic.

and sleeping.

more sleeping

Ethan being a pinch runner in CA.

Ethan and Courtney bonding with their new cousin Winston. Aunt Gaunga and Uncle Derek's new baby...dog.

sleeping some more.

and more.

here too.

getting ready to sleep.

see

Aidan whoopin' Ethan...he's 3...he's 9....the future is dangerous.

Our Temple Bar weather for 2010.

Aidan, Courtney and Sophie playing sweet music on the piano.

Ethan carying Courtney down the LONG walk at XNA to board our plane.

sleeping?

Her pick...pink and green.

Forgot about this. Dipping cheetos in oatmeal. Yuck!

She says "look mommy, I'm wakeboarding."

Chillin' at the pool at FAC.

in the zone...

Paul "diving Ms Daisy". AKA Nana.

Learning how to play Go Fish.

Preschool Day 1

2010-09-07T16:02:00.005-05:00

Today our sweet baby girl started preschool at Wee Care @ University Baptist Church. She has been anticipating this day since we went to visit a couple weeks ago and since her teacher came to our house to visit her last week. We are excited to see her learn, make friends and grow in her relationship with Christ. She is starting slow (she's only 3 ya know) @ 2 days a week, half days each. This morning we got up, had breakfast and went to get dressed. I had picked out a super cute outfit and Courtney being our sweet Courtney had an idea of her own. She decided on the same pants and shoes, but so desperately wanted to wear her tutu that Nana had bought her a while back. I agreed, it's cute, right? She has paid attention and knows what matches, so this dress was a good match. Way to go, baby girl, mommy is proud of your coordinating skills. Daddy was there right along with me to take her to her first day, and she wouldn't have had it any other way. Here are a few pics from her first day, which went off without a hitch.

Courtney and Daddy. LOVES her Daddy!

with Mommy

In front of her new school.

Hanging up her backpack.

Telling Daddy how many kisses he gets before we leave.

Not MY daughter

2010-09-02T14:50:00.002-05:00

Yes. This is Courtney. My flesh and blood. Eating tomatoes! Not just eating them. Asking for more. Asking for them in the middle of the day without prompting from Daddy; the culprit to this. See. I do not like tomatoes. Not only do I not like them, I think they are down right nasty. I guess I must admit I am proud of her, but it's still nasty.

Summer Fun 2010

2010-08-28T17:00:00.007-05:00

Well. Looks like summer is coming to an end here at the Pursley home. Seems like the older the kids get, the quicker it goes. Here are some of my favorites from this summer.

Ms. Stylish.

Some crazy clouds one summer day.

Daddy and Courtney waxing the boat.

4th of July at the park.

Ethan and the high dive. Let me tell you. ITS HIGH!

One day we were outside and a Springdale cop pulled up and gave us stickers...better than tickets.

An awesome reunion with Amber!

Courtney learned how to ski this summer. She is amazing. She can do it all by herself and goes crazy in and out of the wake. She has so much fun and when she's not, she just jumps off.

Carter rockin the big boy skis.

Courtney and Kaylee just being cute.

Nothing better than making heart cookies to finish out the season. Right?

Golfin'. L O V E golfin'.

2010-08-28T16:19:00.005-05:00

Courtney and Paul had a first together. We went golfing at Dad's. (it's not really his but he lives there. Not at the course. But right by it. Whatever.) At Tannenbaum Golf Course Arkansas' Best Kept Golfing Secret. We went with my sister and her husband and my Dad of course. We all did, well, we golfed. Paul was a first timer and to be honest, you couldn't tell. Other than his lack of club knowledge and not knowing to take your putter with you when you hit close to to the tee. He learned these things quickly though. He can hit though. I will tell you that much. And his form isn't bad either. It was a lot of fun to get out there together. Courtney was a trooper! She was mainly the golf cart watcher, until about the 10th hole when I finally told her she could come out on the green with us. She did awesome, didn't complain other than having to go potty. That course has NO potties. Lunch break is about it. She did take lots of pictures for us though. But not his first one.

Courtney and Bopa at one of the prettiest holes.

All of us on the green. Dave, Paul, Me, Dad and Ali.

Such form. HA.It was going far though...see me squinting?

Self portrait.

Being my silly girl. Almost done.

Courtney proving Uncle Dave made it.

Ali took this pic of me. Hard shot. Think I may have cheated here.

Paul clearing the water...almost.

Lookin like a pro.

Courtney goes to the dentist

2010-08-28T15:39:00.004-05:00

Still playing blog catch-up. Courtney had her first dentist appointment on June 10th this year. Yes, we waited until she was 3. She did awesome and has what the dentist call the "Hollywood smile". Great for cuteness as a 3 year old. Not so great when her big teeth get here. Braces will be in her future, luckily she already wants them, since Mommy has them. Courtney went to Dr. Ward. AWESOME! Click the pic below to check out their site. He is a great dentist and his girls are great with kids. They even took xrays! No cavities and she is a good brush-er (well, I am). Little known fact even I didn't know. The dentist recommends brushing your child's teeth for them until they are....ready??? TWELVE!!! He says to let them, but to also do it for them after they are done. Until 12! Sorry baby girl...you'll be going to 5th grade after I brush your teeth.

We told her to lay down...she tried laying on her belly.

Checking out the "sucker thingy".

Getting her first official cleaning.

By the end, she was a pro at the "sucker thingy".

Happy Birthday...a while ago!

2010-08-27T15:11:00.002-05:00

As the previous post stated...I'm blogging out of order. Paul turned 34 July 28th. I never know what to do for his birthday, I usually totally stress it and want it to be perfect. Well, this year, I did the opposite and it turned out great! I invited friends over the day before I think and we grilled some chicken and had some cake and just hung out. What Paul likes to do. Shawn was Shawn and brought a BUNCH of candles including the kind that you can't blow out; oh, and the huge balloon that would still be alive today if I hadn't decided he needed to go during nap time one day.

Blogging Out of Order...Disney World 2010

2010-08-27T14:48:00.004-05:00

First of all, I am spoiled. Totally spoiled. These pictures are NOT from my good camera. They are from my point and shoot Sony W7. A good camera for it's time, but it's not "it's time" anymore. Horrible quality photos but GREAT memories. More pics from Dad's "good camera" to come.

So, on with it. Disney World 2010 was AWESOME! My parents took me and my 3 sisters along with our husbands and all the grandkids that could go. We were at the parks, yes, parkS for 5 days and it was so much fun! Courtney absolutely LOVED the characters. She was so excited to see June and Leo from Little Einsteins. We watched the shows; which Courtney always had to ask at the end "why do they always have something scary in them?". They did too! Bugs Life, Little Mermaid (funny story behind that), even Nemo! We rode the rides. Oh the rides were great! We drank lots of water and sweat lots of sweat in Florida in August. We BBQ'd each night, stayed up late at the parks, watched the best fireworks ever designed, laughed A LOT and just had good plain fun.

the simple things in life

2010-07-09T22:32:00.003-05:00

Oh, the simple things in life. How we take them for granted. Paul is in CA. Paul has been in CA for 5 days. Paul will be in CA for another 7 days. I am home with Courtney. All day. Every day. And it's been raining. So we are home. All day.

Sounds bad, right? Oh, no. It's not. It's becoming awesome! Yes, there are tough times, times I am at the end of my rope. Even times (actually A time) Paul called and I answered the phone in tears and simply said "here, YOU try to talk to Courtney". ...she would NOT go to bed, nothing more, nothing less... But what I have actually realized is that I take so many small things for granted.

Being a stay at home mom since the day my daughter was born, I know nothing else. Courtney knows nothing else. If I was to say "Mommy is going to work", she would literally look at me like I was crazy and probably say something the the effect of "no, DADDY is going to work". It's the way it is in our family and I am truly BLESSED to have the ability to say that. Times like now especially as Paul is in CA to earn money as he was laid off 2 weeks ago.

Since Paul has been gone I have quite literally spent every waking moment with Courtney, other than 2 hours of gym time. Don't want to be a liar or anything. And on the honesty note, that is A LOT of alone time with your daughter. (she rarely naps) It's tough some days, especially when it's raining to think of things to do. Even Courtney is tired of tv! That's where the simple things kick in. Seriously. Playing ball...yes, we play ball IN our house...with her. TICKLING her. Coloring. Making the only thing each of us knows how to with play doh; snakes. Playing pretend. Reading a book. Watching WipeOut. Letting her help put dishes up. Watching her play in the rain. Playing in the rain WITH her. Letting her figure out how to button her jammies; even if it takes longer than I do.

All these things we have been doing together. And many times she has just looked at me and said "I love you, Mommy". Or just her giggle. Today we did something for Daddy...he doesn't know yet, so I can't go writing about it on the internet...and she looks at me and says "THAT is why Daddy loves me". Really, our 3 year old knows these things!?

Tonight I read Courtney a book before bed. I will admit, I do not always read her a book. It's just not part of our bed time routine...but tonight she asked and I did. I read her this book:

it is 63 pages long and has a paragraph per page. Not the shortest book in the world. But I read it, and I LOVE reading to her. And when I said "THE END", she grabs the book and says "my turn to read it to you". And you know what? I let her. And I'm glad I did. I learned tonight. I learned that my daughter not only loves me reading to her but she really pays attention. She went through each of the 63 pages and read it back to me. No, not word for word. She can not read, yet. But she told the same story right back to me in her words. It was PRICELESS.

It's the simple little things in life that matter. May we all remember that.

Courtney turns 3...almost a month ago!

2010-06-08T21:48:00.009-05:00

I absolutely can not believe that my little girl is 3! Where does the time go? My sweet girl had the time of her life for a 3 year old. Nana and Bopa were in town and took us bowling...she has become a Wii bowling maniac and I think it helped her in the real world even. She can now throw the ball herself and actually knock some pins down. It was fun.

One of her best buds, Brady, joined us. He was trying to point the balls in the right direction. :-)

Thanks Dad for taking a great family photo!

drum roll......ANOTHER 4-wheeler! She was so stinkin' excited about this thing.

another drum roll?!?!?! Her FIRST haircut. Yes, at THREE! Daddy went so she didn't really get a 'cut'. She got a very very very very very very very very little trim. Thanks Tracie! You are awesome!

A few weeks before her birthday I decided I wanted her hand prints...I thought of the wall...but quickly realized we can't take the wall if we move...so we started this canvas. To add hands each year until they don't fit anymore.

The party...birthday girl is READY!

Brady and Courtney in the gutter water...where every 3 year old belongs, right?
One exhausted birthday girl!

Easter 2010...finally!

2010-04-21T17:07:00.007-05:00

Easter 2010 was awesome. Courtney was old enough to enjoy the egg decorating and old enough to learn the reason we celebrate Easter. We went to church Friday night and the kids sat with us which went very well. At the end of the service Pastor Mike gave families time to have the Lords Supper together and take their time before leaving. Paul took Ethan and I took Courtney. It was a great time for both of us. Paul to get a little deeper with Ethan and me to start explaining to Courtney. Courtney was able to comprehend what Good Friday was, the day Jesus died. And she knew for what...our sins. And I was even able to get her to understand what sins are. Kinda bit me in the butt soon after as we are walking to the parking lot when I had her tell Daddy what a sin is she replied "When I throw a fit and when Mommy yells". Ouch. But good. Saturday night we decorated eggs...lots and lots of eggs. Our neighbor is a distributor for Paas Egg Dying kits...so we had lots and lots of kits. Kits I'd never even seen before. One had nuts and bolts! Redneck? We stayed up way too late that night and had a blast and made a mess. Uncle Garrett was in town to enjoy the fun and clean up the mess...seriously. Thanks Gar! :-)

Easter morning we went to service then off to the War Eagle Mill for their 33rd annual egg hunt. We were not impressed as if Paul wouldn't have picked Courtney up and ran with her, she would not have even gotten the one egg she got. But she didn't care. She was still having fun. Since that egg hunt was a bomb Daddy ran in and hid the eggs we had colored so Courtney could find lots of eggs. Garrett was a good Uncle and 'helped' her. It was precious.

Our favorite neighbor EVER!

This stuff washes off, right?

Garrett making by far the best egg.

That's my husband.

That's better.

Our mess...

Proud baby girl...at nearly midnight!

Finding a few eggs from the Easter Bunny.

You will only get this picture if you watch Yo! Gabba Gabba! Hoooold Stilllllll.

LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!!

Egg hunt with Garrett.

This is so our daughter!

iPhone minus Facebook

2010-04-08T15:41:00.004-05:00

So a few days ago I set my status on facebook to "Deleting facebook from my iPhone". And I did. I got a few (more than I get on any other status update) comments and questions of why. I guess I could say I didn't REALLY know at first. Just knew I should. As the days have gone on, I have grown to know why. I have a feeling I am not alone here, but I also have a feeling that many people will just continue the way I was.

Lately, I have realized just how much I checked facebook. I'll take a picture of Courtney. Instantly thinking "I'll upload that to facebook". Something funny will happen. Instantly I'll think "I will post that to facebook". I'll be at a stop light. Instantly I grab my phone and think "wonder what's going on in the facebook world". My baby girl would ask me something and I'd say "hold on, just one second...(as I finished a post to some one's facebook status). My husband would get home and I'd have a story to tell him...something I had learned on facebook. You see, I was letting facebook totally consume me!

Another thing I realized: NOTHING is private anymore. Thanks to facebook. Well, thanks to the users OF facebook. So often people are living their lives on facebook. And sadly, comparing their life to facebook friends, their marriages to things they read on facebook. But you see, so often we don't realize that most people 'fluff it up" for facebook. Of course you aren't going to read "my husband and i got in a huge fight last night. he slept on the couch and we woke up this morning not speaking". Just not 'cool' to post. But those things are a reality! There was recently a radio program that did a study on facebook and the damage it can cause in marriages, families, and even jobs. And boy to I believe it! The home is not a home, it's an open door on facebook.

Want another realization? Oh, this one is good. I realized that I was putting 100% into facebook. BUT when it came to marriage, not even close to 100%. When it came to my children, closer to 100% but still not there. Even down to my house, and being a stay at home wife, that also means my job. Not 100% there either. Now, as I laid on the couch and read a book about husbands/wives giving each other their "left-overs" at the end of the day, was I able to continue to give 100% to facebook and give my husband 70, 60, 50, even 40%? THAT was a big thing to realize.

One more, then I think I'm done...for now.

Facebook was kicking my blog's butt! So not fair! See, I created this blog for my children. "What?! For your children?!" You may ask. "One of them can't even read!" And you are right. But, they will both get copies of this blog when they are older. When I learned that you can print your blog to a book (looks like a yearbook, kinda cheesy but awesome none the less) I decided that I would create this blog for them. For them to look back at pictures, read stories, remember things we did, learn things we (Paul and I learned) as we raised them. What an amazing thing we can give them! And I have been failing them, my children, whom I absolutely adore. Again, SO NOT FAIR. As I would post to facebook, pictures and little stories I would think "I need to blog this". But facebook makes it so easy to toss a picture up from my phone, type a short little thing on something funny Courtney said that day, etc. I was getting too lazy to blog, NOT NOT fair.

Some, or maybe even all of this may seem so trivial to you. But if we are honest, if we really really honest and think about what God calls us to be as Christians, Christian wives, Christian husbands, Christian friends and Christian parents...are we really using facebook the right way? Or are we letting it consume us and even take time away from God (I did not even start to address that!)? John Piper said "One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time". I will add that it will prove that our priorities are so often messed up.

NOW. I am NOT saying I am anti-facebook. I am keeping my account. I will update things occasionally. I think it's a great way to share pictures and keep in touch with people. But people like our men and woman serving our country in a war with little or no way to communicate from Afghanistan. Like people on mission trips who are encouraging others. Or family and friends in other states who do not get to see your children daily. But not our neighbor, not our friends that live down the street! Invite those people over for dinner. Show them those pictures personally. Call them on the phone. Tell them that funny story so you can hear their laughter.

....and that why I deleted facebook from my iPhone.

Spring, is here?

2010-03-09T15:52:00.002-06:00

Spring is poking it's head into our lives and we couldn't be more excited! It's been a COLD winter and we are all ready to get outside and enjoy family time outside of the house. Sunday we got a little sneak peek and it was awesome! Courtney and I busted out the sidewalk paint (super cool stuff that dries into sidewalk chalk). We made some letters and some flowers and a heart or two...apparently that bored my sweet baby as she took the paint brush and began painting her hands. She made LOTS of hand prints all over the driveway...then, off to the feet! Oh she is precious...stepping ans squishing her feet into this paint with such joy. Hopping and dancing and spinning little Courtney foot prints all over the driveway. Daddy even grabbed the camera for the rare shot of me and Courtney together. LOVE these pics. She is so precious.

Is The Grass Greener...

2010-03-03T15:27:00.003-06:00

oringinally posted by Cindy Beall

I've rented two movies over the last week or so. We were fairly disappointed because both of them included infidelity. And it's not just because we hate infidelity (which we do) and hate how it ruins marriages (which it has). We hate how it is glamorized by film makers.

Very sad.

I've always been disturbed when I hear someone say about his/her spouse, "I'm just not in love anymore." Since when is mariage always a feel good thing? Ask anyone who has been married if they live in a fairy tale world where they always feel in love. Feelings are so incredibly misleading.

You know what I think? (This is where you say, "yes".) I think that we are in love with what we pour into and what we concentrate on and what we create. If you start to pay attention to the next looker who walks by, you'll be doing that for the rest of your life. Hear me...There will always be good lookin' poeple around you. Period. Get used to it and walk away. If you wanna be in love with your spouse, pour into him, concentrate on her and create new memories and habits that will bring joy for years to come.

Moral of the story? If you find yourself thinking the grass is greenre on the other side, don't move. Just water your own yard.

I'm just sayin'.

Courtney's Room is D.O.N.E.!!!!!

2010-02-17T16:17:00.006-06:00

Holy moly...I can't believe its done...well, is it really ever d.o.n.e? I started out with lavender walls. The two colors we had in her old room and just rolled with it. I made a couple mistakes and just kept painting. Oh, the joy of paint. You mess up a strip, just make it bigger. You go out of the lines, just outline it all. Seriously, I love how it turned out. It's kind of 'princess-ish' but hey, she's our little 4-wheeler riding princes. It is what it is and she likes it. The hardest part was the Bible verse. And not painting it. Although that was simply time consuming! As I sat down to come up with a verse, many came to mind. Her verse her Auntie Shannon first gave her "Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is always with you" Joshua 1:9. Once of my favorites "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13. From James for simplicity "Jesus Wept" John 11:35....what was I searching for seemed so simple! One verse to give her an idea of what the Bible is and why God wrote it. HA! That is funny. Then. It came to me. I was listening to a sermon by my oh so favorite pastor of all time Perry Noble (sorry Mike, you are a close 2nd though) and he quoted Roman 12:2 "Do not be conformed to the ways of this world. But be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect". That was it! What prayer do I have for my little girl? To NOT follow the ways of this world! But to follow the will of God! I was so excited when that came to me. Then, as I designed the cross to go along with it on Photoshop, I thought of a way to help her learn the meaning of the verse as she grows up. Although she is smart, I doubt she will know what the word 'discern' means for a while. So, I painted certain parts in pink to stick out and be a 'shortened' version of the verse. "Do not be conformed, but be transformed by God." I sure love my little girl and I hope through my creativity, I am able to help her relationship with God grow...we now read that verse every night and it means so much to me. It also helps her with her letters...last night she wanted to point at each one and ask me what it was. I would tell her and she would say "yes! Mommy, that's right."

*on a creative note. Yes, I made the crafts in her room and yes, I am for hire! :-)

January CA trip

2010-02-09T09:10:00.006-06:00

Whenever we get a chance to go to CA for something (this time was Sandra's wedding) Courtney and I get to stay for a couple of weeks. At least until she is in school, it's a great opportunity to visit with friends and family. This trip was awesome! We finally got to visit with Kirsten and her family. Courtney had a blast with Aidan, playing cars and building things with tools. Sophie was in heaven with her own 'personal dress up doll'. While Arkansas was having the big snow/ice storm of the year, and Paul was drawing hearts in the snow with the 4-wheeler...we were on the beach! And of course I drew a heart in the sand for him. :-) Courtney also LOVED spending time with her Uncle Westen. She literally brightens up when he comes into the room.

Aunt Gaunga gets married

2010-02-09T08:44:00.002-06:00

A couple of weeks ago we went to CA for Sandra's (Aunt Gaunga) wedding. It was absolutely gorgeous! Ethan was so handsome in his tux and Courtney was a precious little flower girl. Sandra was a stunning bride and the whole day was amazing. It had been raining/snowing for days before the wedding but Saturday morning, it was clear and even a little warm. PERFECT for a wedding. The highlight of the evening for us (parents) was when Ethan was introduced in the wedding party at the reception. He was announced...nothing for a few seconds...then he comes RUNNING down, drops to his knees, slides across the dance floor and finishes with 'the sprinkler'. Absolutely adorable!

Precious Memories

2010-01-21T19:37:00.004-06:00

Ok. I just did 4 post...mainly pictures. I am SO far behind it's not even funny. I hope to do better through the year. I got the last 2 years printed to book and I love it! It's kinda year book looking, but to look through a book with memories of the last 2 years is awesome. I hope to get the blog printed each year for memories our kids will easily have access to. If you haven't heard of blog-2-book, it's a great idea. I got ours through www.thecutestblogontheblock.com . I came across one other site, but it was directed to the same place...either way. Super cute and a great idea for a gift too!

Here are two precious pictures of my sweet baby Courtney from a nice winter day in Arkansas.

Fun With Courtney

2010-01-21T19:27:00.003-06:00

Christmas in January

2010-01-21T19:07:00.003-06:00

Between my mom being in the hospital right after Christmas and the crazy weather...we didn't have Christmas with my parents until about a week ago. Right when the kids were out of 'present mode' there were more. My parents pretty much got the kids the best gifts this year. Ethan's requires a helmet and Courtneys is full of hours of imagination. :-)

Snow 2010

2010-01-21T19:02:00.003-06:00

FEAR THE BANSHEE!!!! (written by the husband)

2010-01-03T22:35:00.003-06:00

Ok, here is the story...Just recently 4wheelers have been the rage among my buddies. Annie and I had 2 blaster 200's a while back and sold them not only to pay some bills of course, but also because nobody was riding with us. Well my buddy James just picked up a new 250 honda, my next door neighbor Todd just got a 400 Kawi, and kyle has a 400 honda. I have been left out of the fun and they have been nice enough to let me ride theirs. So, of course, I started to get the itch and was scrambling my brain to find a way to trade into one for myself, then it hit me..... My awesome, incredible, unbelievable, giving, cool, generous, good looking, fun, giving. good looking, thoughtful, giving, good looking uncle Larry gave me one a long time ago. It has been resting in hiding waiting for the opportunity to give out some whoopins, and people the time has come. I rode it this afternoon in the snow and ice, and all i can say is "FEAR THE BANSHEE". It SCREAMS. So, Kyle, Todd, and James, I would suggest some Advil for the beatings that are headed your way. Larry, YOU ROCK, cant thank you enough, and i can tell you it will be put to good use. Just another way you have been there for me! I love you man......

Christmas 2009

2010-01-02T22:41:00.009-06:00

Christmas has come and gone this year...here are A LOT of photos from the day in no particular order. :-)
We started a new tradition this year...making a cake for the "birthday boy".

The day after Christmas...playing in the left over snow.

Daddy and Courtney learning how to play her new game.

Shanna and Brady on Christmas day.

Courtney and Brady in his new Cars tent...they LOVE it.

Christmas afternoon...heading to Shannas.

this is SO Courtney! Posing in her new Santa outfit...she really thought Santa left his outfit for her to wear.

Eating cake batter from Jesus' cake.

making Jesus' cake

feeding her baby...

both kids Christmas morning on their 4-wheelers...we had a 'white Christmas'.

daddy and courtney putting things together.

our librarian

my brother...santa didn't pay attention to the naughty/nice list I guess...

light wheels for his bike...

like father like daughter

all of us

santa left a MESS!

stocking all stuffed and ready for the morning...

setting out cookies and milk for santa

hot chocolate Christmas Eve

one present on Christmas Eve

Courtney's 1st Christmas Program

2010-01-02T20:43:00.005-06:00

FBCS KDO had their first Christmas program this year and we were blessed to have our daughter in it. She was so stinkin' cute and did awesome. Her and her friend Elise were the two goof balls being cute up front...aka, messing around. But at 2, it was absolutely adorable. Miss Jilly Bean did a great job leading our children.

"goofin' off"

Weekend Minus Courtney

2009-12-10T20:41:00.002-06:00

Last weekend we gave Ethan a "present". We sent Courtney to my parent's house for the weekend and spent time with just the 3 of us. He told me "not that I don't like her, but it is nice". I must say, it was nice to just have the 3 of us for a few days. Saturday I thought of taking him to Lewis and Clark and take him rock climbing. He did great! The guy assisting thought he had done it quite a bit....though it was his first time. From the ground it looked SO easy....then came my turn (yes, Paul made me go before him)...it wasn't "hard" but it was HIGH. It was a lot of fun though...even Paul got strapped in to go...scared of heights and all. Just don't look down.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-29T20:06:00.007-06:00

What am I thankful for this year? My family! This year we went to my sister Shannon's and had a great time! We just hung out, ate, and busted open the pinata! Yes, a pinata at Thanksgiving. It was a BLAST. According to my brother-in-law, it is tradition in his family to have a pinata for Thanksgiving. Odd, maybe. Fun, definitely. :-)

This moment was priceless. This is my Grandma with my daughter and my sister's daughter (who are 2 weeks apart). They both climbed up in Grandma's lap. THIS is what Thanksgiving is about.

And the next generation. My Dad has his turn too...How does Courtney look just like me and I look just like my Dad, but I don't think they look alike at all?!?! hmm...

The cousins...

My sweet nephew Carter.

Let the pinata.....challenge us!!! Uncle Jim showing Courtney (the youngest of the group) how to take aim.

....not quite enough to break it...

Kaylee was next...Ali showed her how...

Uncle Jim showed her how to HIT it.

I LOVE Carter's face here. The kids had so much fun.

Then there was Alina...

And then there was Anthony...I was SURE he would bust it...

And back to the youngest...encouraged to kick it...steal toe boots may have helped.

We decided to bring in reinforcements...Tad...the youngest of the "older kids".

I was up next!

and chaos....

Auntie Shannon showing Courtney how to look through the kaleidoscope.

Uncle Dave doing what Uncle Dave does...

All in all, Thanksgiving was great. On to the next year of thanks.

the latest rc venture

2009-11-28T22:38:00.001-06:00

Gorgeous November Day

2009-11-22T15:02:00.003-06:00

We have had such odd weather this year. We are really enjoying it though as we are able to get outside a lot! Love my kids and love that they don't mind me taking pictures of them...ALL THE TIME!

she's not really sad...I told her to 'act sad'...good job, baby!

Even Bo was feeling photogenic this day.

Ethan's new room

2009-11-22T14:41:00.002-06:00

After MUCH deliberation, I did it. I made a decision and painted/decorated Ethan's new room. His room was SO bare and needed something, anything! I wish I would have taken a picture of before, but of course, I did not. Oh well...I got the "theme" from his Quiksilver towel I got him and just rolled from there. I took this blank canvas and came up with this:

These are photos from his 9th birthday party that was held at the BMX track in Lowell. The one to the left is his favorite.

Above his window I am still wanting to add a bible verse (of his choice). I'm going to TRY to do it in the quiksilver font so it looks 'cool'. I'll post the update when I get enough guts to try.

Candy Land 1st timer

2009-11-17T14:54:00.005-06:00

Courtney experienced the timeless Candy Land the other night. I think we tried it with her once before and she just didn't get it. But the other night she did. We started off with a minor hick-up...NO CANDY LAND MEN were in existence here at the Pursley home. But that was OK, the players from Chutes and Ladders were happy to play a different game. So, we got our men out and explained to her how to play. She got it! I was so proud of my little girl. She knows her colors and was a patient player too. Daddy even tried to skip Mommy and Courtney was not having that!

The winner and her Daddy. :-)

This picture was that night. She was just having so much fun.

Family Photos Fall 2009

2009-11-09T14:36:00.005-06:00

October 24th was the big day. Yes, my little brother turned 21 but it was also family picture day. Oh, the dreaded family picture day. The day that I look forward to for weeks. I pick out matching yet still super cute outfits, think of how I will do Courtney's hair and how we will get Ethan's hair cut. That part is all so much fun. But it's also the day that I dread. The day Paul will get frustrated with me because I want him to wear something he never ever wears. The day Ethan looks at me with the strangest look when I tell him "don't get dirty" and of course the day that Courtney does not take a nap. Oh, the joy of family pictures! God was with me this time though. He had a will and it was done! Our family pictures turned out awesome! Kimberlea Bass took us down to the railroad tracks in Fayetteville and captured some super cute moments of the 4 of us. The hardest part of that day? Deciding what to order! Here's what we decided on:

Crazy Courtney

2009-11-03T16:22:00.004-06:00

Ohhhh. My sweet baby girl. Always crackin' us up! Seriously, how can you ever get angry at this little girl. Daddy says "put your panties on". She says "ok"...and look where they go.

Mommy says "go to bed". She says "ok". And comes out like this.

Mommy calls out "baby where are you". She says "right here mommy".
**notice all 4 toothbrushes are out and toothpaste ready. Her Uncle Garrett would be so proud.

Mommy takes her to a photo-shoot of friends and she says "take my picture mommy".

I must admit. I absolutely love my little girl.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-03T15:53:00.004-06:00

Introducing our little "Conductor". What a fitting costume this year as she seems to conduct our life each day. As I contemplated what to dress my little 2 year old as I cam across Ethan's tux from when Paul and I got married. For kicks I had Courtney try it on...and it was ADORABLE! It hit me, "she'll be a conductor!". She is totally in love with Little Einsteins and she is constantly 'conducting' her stuffed animals and babies. So, Halloween night we headed over to the music store and got a conducting wand. Guitar Center did not carry them, they are too cool.

Courtney loved it! We headed off to Grace Point church for Trunk-or-Treat with James and Shanna and we had fun. Daddy was in OKC for a job and missed the night, so we took a lot of pictures for him. Courtney was so patient waiting in line for her turn and when they told her to take 'some candy' she took 'a lot of candy' but they didn't mind. I would say her favorite part was the BIG SLIDE. She climbed right up there and flew down. Immediately she looks up and says 'I want to go again, Mommy". Our little dare-devil, I tell ya!