Awards and LDOS!!!!

Ok I've been really bad about the blog- and I tried to post this last week but it didn't work so here we go again. We've been wrapping up things around here for the school year and have had lots of awards ceremonies, field day, and graduation (kindergarten:)) Here we are at Parker's field day!!

Parker saying the opening prayer!

The Shoe Kick! Best event by far!

Tug of war- Parker helping out another team!

Parker and BFF Sie- and Parker's new "smile"--really?

And here again with daddy!

 Parker at his kindergarten graduation!! Oh it was so precious! Cannot believe my youngest is done with kindergarten!! WOW!! He is absolutely hilarious and I love being with him. He is usually stuck with me more than the others running errands and he is always (well MOST of the time:)) in a good mood! Love that boy!

Precious lifelong friend- Kaitlyn

Precious lifelong friend Kendall!

We were so blessed to have Mrs. Powell as his teacher. She was absolutely wonderful! We love her!!

Sie saying the closing prayer- it was so adorable!

Patton's class had a candle-light memory verse chapel. They all did so great- Patton's verse was I Corinthians 13:4 and 5.  Patton is so fun to be around- he is a great friend to all and very loyal. He makes me smile each day and I love his sweet hugs! Can't believe he'll be in 5th grade!!

Chandler had her 6th grade awards last week and it was great too. They all looked so old up there and I couldn't believe how much they had changed in the last 9 months. Cannot believe she will be in 7th grade! She is such a joy to us and has really matured lately and we really just have a fun time together. She thinks I'm embarrassing quite often still but that's my job right??  AND I'm just a really cool mom who forgot her camera SO I don't have any pics of her that day:( But I'll leave you with a pic of a tradition that my mom started LONG ago for me and my sisters, and that I have carried on. Every year on the last day of school (LDOS) she would hang posters on the front door with the grade number we'd be in the next year and all sorts of random things all over it saying what we would be doing in the summer. We always loved it and it was so fun to think of all the possibilities the summer would hold! Thanks mom for always coming up with the most creative memories!!

Perspecitve

After a wonderful mother's day celebration (no pictures for some reason://) We got to spend the evening with our wonderful missionaries from Rwanda. They were here to see some family and friends and had just been to Pepperdine and back to speak at their lectureship. It was such a blessing to spend the evening with the Shelby family. We love their whole family (and my kids have a SLIGHT affection for their kids- they are precious!!) So we got to hang out at the Byron Nelson home and it was a gorgeous evening! Peggy Nelson is a wonderful and gracious host and lets any and all missionaries stay at her home when they come back on furlough. It is such a reprieve for them and we were blessed to be able to talk to the Shelby's without being in a noisy restaurant!

Chris and Jill Shelby

We shared delicious food and got to talk to them about all the things happening in Rwanda. They had a made a video of the Peace House boys and I can't tell you what it did to me to be able to see those boys. In my lopsided little world I have had a "hard" week. People have been people, and sometimes I let what others think about me or say about me really get to me. ONE look at these precious boys and I am back to the world I fell in love with. Where "perspective" comes into focus with amazing clarity. I feel the peace of God, and I am transported back to the place where my heart grew in love and compassion. I remember thinking PLEASE let me always feel this way! But of course, life has a way of sneaking back in and the little mundane things become important again, we get "busy"  and schedules, kids, and people are frustrating, and I lose sight of this. Why is it SO easy to turn your heart right and feel one way and then SO easy to lose sight of it. Anyway, it did my heart good to hear those boys (speaking in English and doing SO good!) and to hear the Shelby's tell story after story of them. I seriously wish I could go to the airport right now and go hug them and tell them of God's love. Maybe soon.....I hope. One of my favorite stories is this...each boy at the Peace House had 2 pairs of clothes (2 shirts, one pair of shorts, one pair of jeans or pants) So a few months ago we sent them all 2 new pair of clothes. After they received the package, they were so excited and soon told Chris what they wanted to do. Since they had FOUR outfits now, it was time to give away their old clothes. They knew they had more than they needed and wanted to bless another kids life that lives on the street. How amazing is that? I mean I can't even tell you the amount of clothes I don't wear just sitting in my closet, and yes, I'll gladly give it away when I hear a need for it but I certainly don't sit there and think Well I have 4 shirts, I guess it's time to give away 2 of them. It's not about the clothes, just the heart of those boys. We sit here and think- They have nothing. And they sit there and think- We have too much. WOW- brought me to tears and made me so thankful that they are learning about God's generous love and going out and SHOWING it to others!

Patton and Fred- he is always so good to play with the kids-even when they won't quit hugging him:)

Tess- sooo adorable!

Cy and Chandler

Patton and Cy

Parker and Fred

So thankful that God had this dinner planned on THIS night. A night of renewal of the mind and a fresh perspective.

So hard to say good-bye!

Happy Easter & GO XTREME!!!

 We had such a wonderful Easter weekend! Lots of dying eggs, egg hunts and pretty outfits but also one of service! We went to a neighborhood in Fort Worth that is poverty-ridden but full of precious kids! We helped some wonderful people at our church put on an Easter celebration with bounce houses, face painting, a ginormous 3,000 egg Easter egg hunt, and a free barbecue lunch for all! The Youngblood's have such a wonderful heart for this community and we were blessed to be a part of the day.
That night we came home to finally dye some eggs! Parker asked me why we did this and I couldn't come up with a better answer than "the pictures look cute in the scrapbook"!? ha! I really don't know why I still make them do it but they had fun. The colors this year were very weird and didn't come out at all like they usually do, but they were still pretty:)

After a wonderful church service we headed to Jeff's parents house.  They definitely have the gift of hospitality and we always have such a wonderful time there! We are so blessed to have such a great Papa and KayKay! I am so spoiled to have such wonderful in-laws:)

 It drives me crazy cracks me up when we just cannot get a "natural" smile from the boys so finally I just said ok do whatever you want.....And I'm so proud to show you what they instantly came up with..

 Yes- that's much better, thank you!
 We also got to celebrate some April birthdays!...

 Patton, Lexi, and Edie!

Couldn't decide if he wanted chocolate or vanilla icing so we did both!

 Above is Papa and KayKay and ALMOST all of their grandkids! We were missing Bret and Haleigh and they are always SO missed especially on holidays like this. All the kids absolutely adore Bret and Haleigh and we CAN'T wait till she is completely done with chemo and completely healed and can return to family days! We love and miss you!
And yes, I realize that my youngest bundle of joy is in the midst of an Easter celebration wearing NO shirt. I really can't even go there.






Chandler had her cheer banquet tonight to celebrate a wonderful year at Spirit Xtreme! We were so proud of her! I love to watch her perform and compete and she absolutely LOVES it!! Chandler and her friend, Halle Caroline are on different teams but they both made us SO proud tonight by receiving these awards: Out of 50ish girls only 4 or 5 got awards for character or leadership! Both of them are so talented out there on that floor but NOTHING made me more proud to know that their coaches and teammates see them as having an outstanding attitude and outstanding leadership!! Way to go girls!

 This wasn't the best picture of them with their awards but someone came out of that door behind them and that got them giggling and it was just too cute not to put on here!

 Chandler's teammate and one of MY cheerleaders:) Kelsey!

Her whole team: HONOR   They were the "winning-est" team of all spirit xtreme! Sweet girls! Love this cheer club and we are so blessed to go to a place where the name of JESUS is spoken often and shining for God is the overall theme! Thank you Walter and Melissa for rising up in this crazy world of competitive cheer and giving glory to God in all you do!