Julie & Alyson... Best Friends

Julie is feeling so much better today! She asked me this morning, "Mommy, will you take my picture with Aly Kate?" I am so glad to see she's feeling better. She also read books to Alyson. Alyson is so entertained by her!
Alyson is 4 1/2 months now and we decided tonight that we would introduce to her rice cereal...her first real food! As you can tell by her facial expressions, she wasn't real impressed. In fact, she really wasn't interested at all.
If she could talk she would have said, "Daddy, please don't make me eat that!" and, "I think I'll just stick to eating my hand instead."

Oops!

Ok, I was just reading what I had written in the section "About Me" and I didn't realize that I had written that "God was my Friend... Brandon, my best Friend." (Sorry God!) Well, it convicted my heart anyway. Sometimes we say that God is our best friend, but really, who do we invest most of our time in? I know for me I am guilty of spending alot of my time with my children, then Brandon, then if there's any time left, I'll spend it with God. (and by that time it's 10:30 and I'm tired!) That is the complete opposite order it should be in. God, Brandon, then children. It is so important to get that order right. He created us for His purpose and to glorify Him. Just like His word says, "..but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful (Mark 4:19)." But then in Psalm 37 it says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Anyway, I just had to make that correction.. and it could have been a 'God-thing'. He was probably bringing that to my attention to convict my heart of where he stands in my life. I want to bring Him my best every day and consult with Him in all I do. Because without Him I am nothing and can do nothing.
Thank you, Jesus!

On the Road to Recovery

Brandon and I struggled with the decision of whether or not to have Julie's tonsils and adenoids removed. After much prayer and research, God gave us both a peace about going through with it. We had both talked with many people who said that their child was a new child afterwards and not so sick all the time. So, we took Julie early this morning to the Jones Clinic in Springdale where Dr. Gluth took her tonsils and adenoids out. She did SO good, was very big and brave (I don't think she really understood what the word 'surgery' meant until it was all over with!) To say the least, she was not too happy when they brought her back to us afterwards. Of coarse, the anesthesia makes anyone a little disoriented and out of it.
Dr. Gluth told us that her adenoids were especially large and that there was alot of old infected mucus behind them. That made us feel alot better about our decision to have them removed. All along they were just holding in and causing infection...poor baby- no wonder she's had to 'live' on antibiotics! She can already breathe so much better thru her nose. So hopefully she's on her way to a quick recovery and back to her old self again. Until then that means lots of jello, popsicles, ice cream...!!!
So now we are back at home all taking it easy. The girls are both taking their naps (I'm about to join them) and since Brandon took the day off, he went to WalMart and is getting Julie's prescriptions filled...He just called from Lowes asking what kind of screen door I like.. Yah! I've always wanted a back screen door! (I also hinted that I needed my car washed and vacuumed out at the carwash... we'll see if he caught the hint). So, he's out running around... enjoying his day off from work.
Again, I want to thank each of you for praying for our little Julie and her surgery. Please continue to pray for a smooth recovery and that she will begin to have better health with her ears, throat, nose, etc...
We love you!
Miranda/Mandy
(pictured: As soon as Julie hit the pillow she was out...all that anesthesia and pain medicine makes you tired!)

Deacon Ordination

Last Sunday, Brandon, along with 3 other men, were ordained to serve as deacons in the church. He is excited about how God will use him as a deacon. We ask for your prayers as we are being called into this kind of ministry. Satan is at work and loves to attack those who surrender to God's calling. We pray we will stand strong in our faith and be used for God's purposes

























The 'laying on of hands'
(Ordained men from the church and area prayed for each of the four men)

Julie: From Squaredancing to Gymnastics!

Over Labor Day weekend, Julie had the opportunity to squaredance at the Clothesline Fair and be in the Parade. She, being the youngest on the team, had so much fun. She loves to perform in any way, whether singing, dancing... So squaredancing was right down her alley. Also, she had her first gymnastics practice at the Williams Center. It is only a 1 hour class, and let me tell you, she was disappointed when it was over. She couldn't believe it was already time to go home! She had alot of fun and was excited to learn some new 'tricks'. Here are just a few pictures of her latest hobbies!

Two Peas in a Pod

Julie and her daddy are like two peas in a pod. If she is ever upset or sad she'll say, "I want my daddy..." or out of the blue she'll say, "I love my daddy soooo much". And of course I always have to throw in, "Well, what about your mommy?" She'll say, I love my mommy, but I love my daddy SOOO much."
I'm thankful for their close relationship and I pray they will always stay close. I took this picture at the park one day and thought it was so cute of them together. It was right after Brandon had to get on to Julie for something and after he talked to her about what ever it was she had done he threw her up in the air (just playing). I just happened to have my camera out and caught it at the right moment!!