HE not ME

   I am struggling right now. I mean, for real. I am feeling the weight of others' burdens and I desire so badly to fix all of them. I have been asking the Lord to make me more compassionate and aware of others' needs. Can I just say that He answered and DUMPED opportunities for me to practice this. I seem to be failing more than I am succeeding. There is one situation currently that I am begging the Lord to show favor in. I need Him to come through for them, I need Him to come through for me.    
      Honestly, I am realizing that I am trying to rely on myself. I think I can handle this and the truth is I cannot. I wish I could waive my magic wand and heal all the hurt. I think this is one way that God is continuing to remind me and say, " Hey don't settle for this earth, don't get too comfortable, this is just a mist in the scheme of eternity, baby girl this ain't your final home, & I've got this". Not Marci- God. I'm pretty much ready for a new object lesson, but I must be a very slow learner.   
     A verse in the Bible that I have been working through is 2 Corinthians 4 :8-9, " We are pressured in every way, BUT not crushed; we are perplexed BUT not in despair, we are persecuted BUT not abandoned we are struck down BUT not destroyed". The other verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:24, " He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it".  HE not ME. Sometimes it seems that the Lord brings us right to what we feel is our edge, just to sweetly swoop in and engulf us in His mighty power. I really am thankful  that He is teaching me to be more like him. I am loving walking with other women and their families through trying times. I am loving how the Lord is stretching me in new ways, even if it hurts for the moment. He's good and faithful you all, for real.

Just look how creative God is!!

The Gentry Safari

One of the things we miss most about living in a bigger city is a zoo. In Northwest Arkansas they have this thing called the Gentry Safari. It may be a little "country", but the kids loved it and it was really cute.

Part of the safari you drive around in your car and the other part you walk.  On the walking part you can pet and feed some of the animals.

A little of this and a little of that

I am trying to be more crafty, creative, not boring, whatever you would like to call it... so I made something.... please be proud even if you notice the uneven paint job : )

We put one of Jack's birthday gifts to use- this bubble was massive!!

Jack finished soccer season and got his first medal!!!

Easter 2012

Easter was a bit different this year. Our church had 6 services on Saturday and Sunday, therefore Ronnie was gone a little bit. We dyed eggs on Saturday night late. Then Sunday evening we had people over to celebrate who were like us, missing family! We LOVE having people over and this will be something we do again next year. We also had a small Easter egg hunt. It was a great weekend.

Birthdays

Jack turned 5 on February 25 and Anna Kate turned 3 on April 2!!

The Birthday Girl on Her Day

We took some of her little friends to Glitter box

The Cupcakes

Jack and Silas in the Pool

All the Kiddos- over 50 people : )

The party at the Boys and Girls Club

Why So Quiet?

So the other day I was on/off the phone a lot due to having to sort through some details related to church stuff. Needless to say the kids were being really quiet, too quiet. I came around the hall to find Hudson with his pants wet from the ankles down. I thought maybe Anna Kate got him into something. Then I stepped on the carpet and it squished. Not good. I walked into the hall bath to find the toilet paper roll gone, the toilet being flushed, water overflowing and my bathroom flooded. Anna Kate and Hudson tag teamed clogging the toilet with an entirely new roll of toilet paper. All Jack could say was " They kept flushing it mom". Thanks son- maybe could have told me that 3 minutes ago. I actually plunged the toilet. Fun times. Kids are a blessing. :)

Santa Express

We took the kids and went with the Floyd's on the Santa express last weekend. Santa was....well... He was nice and the kids loved it.  Jack asked for a cheetah???

This guy was excited!!

Then we made a gingerbread house.

Messy memories :)