Happy Birthday to a great father, Poppa, friend, advisor, mentor, man of God, and the list could go on and on. Hope you had a wonderful day and enjoyed the little seranades you got from your grandkids today. We all send our love and we can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving. You have been the best father a girl could wish for and I appreciate all of the help you have given over the years. There are so many little things that I like to look back on from my childhood and most of them involve my daddy (and mom too, but this post is about you lol), like you playing games with us and the neighborhood kids on Melinda Lane (t-ball, toss-the-tennis-ball-over-the-roof), wrestling and playing keep away and football with you in the living room (3 kids against 1 daddy) you teaching me to ride my bike, the stereo cabinets you made each of us one Christmas for our new stereos, the smell of the wood shavings in the garage when you did your wood working (I still love that smell because it reminds me of you)learning how to drive with you in the passenger seat, the feel of your hand on my head and the sound of your voice as you prayed for me on many, many occassions, and walking down the aisle with you at my side on my big day. You were always there at each big moment in my life and all the not so big ones too. And you still are, because even though you can't always be with me in person, I know you are always there in love and support. I love you and happy birthday. Love, your 'baby girl'

First of all, let me say a very happy birthday to a very special man: my hubby! Kevin's birthday was yesterday but due to a busy weekend with Ladies Conference and Retreat, I didn't post yesterday. But, I do want to say what a great guy I am married to. He watched the kids for me so I could take off on his birthday and go to Retreat. And he didn't complain at all. I want to say, I love you and happy birthday!!


Second, all I can say about Ladies Retreat was WOWOWOWOW. It was absolutely awesome! Bro Todd Nichols preached Friday night and Saturday and he had a word from the Lord for the Ladies of the Rock. It "makes me want to shout, Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus, Lord your worthy of all the glory and all the honor and all the praise!" I am so excited to think about what God's doing right now in us and with us. What a revelation to realize the power that God has given us is being exactly how He made us to be: meek, compassionate, virteous. A miraclulous change will take place in our homes and our lives when we learn this truth that the world tries to twist and manipulate into something crude and loud and ugly. And we are waiting on God's promise, not allowing the birth of an Ishmael, a mocking spirit, but waiting for God to fulfill His promise in our lives. And the spirit of prayer that moved on our ladies group this morning was phenomenal and life changing. Like I said, WOWOWOW.

I am excited about next year, especially with the format being the same: Conference services on Friday night and Saturday at TRC with Food and Fellowship at the Retreat hotel Friday pm and Lunch after service Saturday. We had a blast at the hotel after service this year. I was up til 3 am playing games and talking. Fun, fun, fun!! Jill did a great job getting it all together with her team of helpers. Anyway, I am marking my calendar for Oct 9 and 10 next year (sorry, Kevin, its your b-day again, I know, but hopefully the changes you see in me after this retreat will make the sacrifice worth it!! love you!)

And anyone who can make it next year, needs to plan on it. The sacrifice of time and money (which is minimal) are worth it when you come away with your spirit renewed and refreshed, your mind set on the promise of God, and your heart clean and full of the Holy Ghost.

Happy Birthday to a Special Lady

Happy Birthday, Mom!! We love you so much and miss you everyday. Wish we could be with you on this special day, but since we can't, know that we are with you in our hearts and are sending all of our love your way. Hope your day is as wonderful as you are.

You have had a tough summer. I think you were in the hospital more than you were out of it. And you had just moved into a new house. And you were trying to study for your big CTR Certification test through it all. But through all of that, you had the faith and the strength to lean on God and you persevered! You are getting better, slowly but surely. You passed your test and are now a CTR with a great new job. I am proud of you. You have showed me time after time that if a person trusts in God , giving it her all, she can accomplish anything.

You are an amazing example and mentor, a lady of God, a devoted wife and mother. You are a Proverbs 31 woman. I am blessed to call you mom. Kevin has the best mother-in-law (even he says so!!) My kids have the most loving and wonderful grandma in the world. You have been there for us through thick and thin, loving us and supporting us and encouraging us. Have a very happy birthday with many more to come. We love you bunches!!