A Precious Moment

We have been praying with Lily every night before she goes to sleep since the day we brought her home. We pray for various things, but always for her salvation...that she would come to know Jesus as her Savior. Recently we began asking her who she would like to pray for. Usually she says a family member or two, or some friends. Tonight the conversation went like this:

Robert: "Who do you want to pray for?"
Lily: "Mmmm...Lily...and mommy...and me...and for my salvation too."

After saying this she immediatly closed her eyes and bowed her head to pray. Robert and I just looked at each other with great big smiles on our faces...there were no words. There is no greater gift we could receive than the knowledge that our daughter's eternity is secure in heaven with Jesus. Lord let it be so.

United for Easter

This post title has a double meaning:
1...Robert and I were blessed to be able to go see the Steven Curtis Chapman/Michael W. Smith "United" tour on Saturday in Long Beach. It was an amazing show, needless to say. It was the first time seeing Steven in concert since he lost his daughter, Maria, last May. I know I spent pretty much Steven's entire set list in tears. I won't speak for Robert, but let's just say I did hear a sniffle or two come from his direction.:o) Steven is one amazing man of God and I just can't put into words how moving it was to see him up there praising God after going through such a trial. He was so open and honest about how he and his family have been struggling and how they had to decide if they really believed what he had been singing about for so many years. Believe me...they do! It was a blessed night.
2...and even more importantly, Robert and I celebrated our 12th anniversary being "united" in marriage on Easter Sunday! It was kind of neat that our anniversary fell on Easter this year. We went to church in the morning and heard a great message about why we believe what we believe is true. The Christian faith means nothing without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We learned about the 3 witnesses, Mary, Peter and John, who saw that He was no longer in the tomb. We learned about the hundreds of witnesses who saw and touched Him after He rose from the dead. And we learned how blessed we are because we believe, even though we have not seen.

'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:18-21

After the service we came home to get ready for a luncheon with the family. (First though, Robert had a brief meeting with a couple who is getting married this Friday who's wedding he is shooting. Whoohoo!) We had a great time with them and some wonderful food too. Lily had a blast coloring eggs and searching for them later. Here are some pictures of our day.

Lily and Auntie Ellen coloring and decorating eggs.

The most beautiful eggs I've ever seen!

Lily hunting for eggs. We hid plastic ones though. I didn't want to risk a real one getting left out in the yard...peeeyew!

An adorable picture of Lily by our hydreangea bush.

Showing off her prize.

There were eggs hidden in the cala lillies too.

Another find...so proud!

After the hunting was over, of course she wanted to find out what was inside. So exciting!

Of course there was some candy...

And what good would it be if she didn't get to eat some!?!?

She also got some fun Curious George stamps. Her favortie cartoon and one of her favorite things to do...stamp with mommy!

The raspberry lemon cake I made for dessert. It was more raspberry than lemon, but it was very yummy!

Lily and Nai Nai.

Good Grief!

What happened to March? Time flies when you are busy living life. Well, in case there is still anyone out there who checks in on us from time to time, here is a little something I hope will make up for the lack of posting last month!

Lily singing "A Your Adorable". Her favorite version is by Dean Martin. This one is my favorite!





And of course, some pictures. First, just a few cards, then on to bigger and better things.

This is the Valentine's Day card Lily and I gave to Robert. I had a ton of fun making this card. Once I got started with the hearts, I just couldn't stop. (Of course this is because our hearts are just overflowing with love for him!)

This is a card we sent to our dear friend who recently lost his mom. We are praying for you M and H...and Lily won't let us forget!

We made these cards at my Stamp-a-Stack class last weekend. So cute and super easy.

I went to get Lily up from her nap one day and look what I found...Snowflake and Panda all tucked in their bed. Too cute.

Snowflake and Panda's mommy very proud of herself for taking such good care of her babies.

I did a spur of the moment photo shoot with my little point and shoot camera. There was something about the way the sun was coming in through the window and lighting up the room that makes me just love these pictures (and not to mention the cutest photo subject ever!).

This picture is blurry, but I just love the laughter...real and genuine. These moments are precious moments.

Here she is once again, being a good mommy. This time to her "costume baby". (She isn't really into naming them yet.)

And last but not least...reading books with Lao Lao. She loves her books and constantly wants us to read to her anything she can find. One of her current favorites is the See's candy catalog. I have no idea where she got that!;o)

A Funny Thing Happened...

...as I was preparing the previous post. Lily was playing in the living room and hollered back to me asking if she could have a piece of candy she had received from her "Auntie Kari" for Valentine's Day. They are in a little candy jar on an end table in the living room. Usually she is very good about not touching anything unless we tell her it's ok. I had already told her several times she could have one after lunch, so I hollered back to her that same statement. Things got quiet...never a good sign...so I made my way to the living room just in time to catch a little hand in the candy jar. She saw me and with eyes as big as saucers immediately pulled her hand out. I asked her very calmly, "What are you doing?" and she BURST into tears! Things like this just make me laugh, especially when I think of how so many people talk about how "innocent" children are. Ha! We are all born sinners in need of a Savior. She was guilty and she knew it. It is such a blessing and I am so thankful to see God working in her heart already.

Happy (be-lated) Valentine's Day (and new pictures!)

Well, I finally have some new pictures to post! I have really got to get it together and learn how to upload and convert these things myself. I am just so not into that!

Anyway, first are just some cute, random pictures.:o)

I had Lily show off her tushy so I could get a picture of the reason we bought this dress.:o)
Plus it was only $6 at Costco. Gotta love it!

Another swing picture at the park, but I just love this one.

Look at that smile! When I see her smile like this, it just fills me with joy at the miracle we've been given.

On to Valentine's Day! I found these adorable little mailboxes in the $1 bin at Target (LOVE that $1 bin!). Naturally I had to get them to decorate for Valentine's Day gifts for our family. Of course the flags are up since Lily helped decorate the special valentines we put inside.

Some little 3 x 3 valentines and a cute little box made with the Stampin' Up scallop envelope die for the Big Shot. It's amazing the things you can do with that machine!

Of course Lily got a little spoiled for Valentine's Day.:o) I decorated a tin for her and filled it with toy jewelery (again from the $1 bin!). She also got a new placemat, a plate, a big girl cup, some silverware, a new Curious George DVD and a great big marshmallow heart.

I think she liked it all!

We went to Nai Nai's house the day after Valentine's Day for my birthday dinner. We forgot to put my memory card back in my camera and borrowed hers. I found this adorable picture on it of Nai Nai and Lily from Christmas. So precious!

Lily got spoiled again with Valentine gifts from Auntie Ellen and Nai Nai's friend Jacci. Jacci is also the one who gave Lily Snowflake. You may remember the story of Snowflake from last summer. I'd link directly to it, but I don't know how!

Lily and Larry. They have a lot of fun together...a very special relationship. He and Nai Nai took care of Lily while I was in Salt Lake City last July/August for 3 days. Larry casually mentioned that I should go on another one of my stamping getaways. I think he's trying to get rid of me! When I mentioned this, he affirmed my suspicion.:o)

On Monday, 2/16, my friend Michele called me in the morning saying she was in labor. Her whole family had been sick and she asked if we could watch their 2 year old, Rachel, for the day. No problem! Lily and Rachel had a great time playing together.

Rachel emptied one of Lily's baskets and promptly crawled inside with several toys. So cute!

Lily had fun dragging Rachel around by the hand showing her the house and all of her toys.

Here she is "helping" Rachel with her drink.

And, by the way, Michele and her husband Sean came to pick up Rachel later that afternoon...with no baby. False labor...darn! But happily, Rachel's baby sister, Marley, came a few days later...Saturday, February 21st, weighing in at a mere 5 lbs, 10 oz and 21 " long. A tall, skinny future basketball player!

Morning Conversations

Lily to Mommy: "Are you a she?"

Mommy to Lily: "Yes I am. Are you a she"?

Lily to Mommy: "Yes!"

Mommy to Lily: Is Daddy a she?"

Lily to Mommy: "No! Daddy a Hero Man!"

Daddy will be so proud!

Last Nights Dinner Conversation

Daddy to Lily (referring to her favorite TV shows): "Lily...what's your favorite? Curious George, Word World or Caillou?"

Lily to Daddy: "Amy Grant!"

That's my girl!