Friends and Cake!

So, last night, one of my best friends in the world threw me a birthday party at her house. She had "30" themed everything. We had the most delicious burgers and hot dogs every plus she spent the afternoon making me the most beautiful birthday cake I've here had.

Our children played in the swimming pool and on the swing set while we sat around and visited and ate. Campbell and Carson both were so good last night and that is a fact I was very grateful for.

Even though I'm turning 30, I have to say, I'm glad to be out of my 20's. I really didn't care for that decade that much. Now, granted, I did get married to my best friend and have 2 of the most wonderful children on the planet during that decade but never the less, I'm glad I'm able to start a new chapter in my life.

I feel the richest I've ever felt in my life at this point. I'm grateful for my friends, I'm grateful for my husband and children, my family and my church.

I had such a great time last night and it got me thinking... as I was looking around at the people who I love and people who love me, that's all, in life, that really makes one rich. The people in it.

So, I have made a resolution to go into my 30's with a new attitude of thankfulness. My heart is full...

I love my friends, family and cake!

My cup runeth over...

My Cute Son....

Ok Check this out!

Come on! Tell me that's not the cutest thing ever... My last post was a pic of just me and Campbell so I thought I would show off my son this time. I am blessed!

Living with the Flies...

Well, you know you live on a ranch a few feet away from the barn and that it is summer time when you walk down the hall of your house a large swelling up of flies fills the area before you. It's lovely... truly lovely. Of course, somewhere amongst the flies dwelling inside my home (and on this computer screen as I write this blog) I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I mean, isn't that way it should be? In this home, with this husband and these children, with this job on this ranch at this church... I pray today that all of you are fortunate enough to be in the same boat as I find myself. Even when you are living with the flies, I pray it's exactly where you want to be!

Brookhill Blog Spot!

Brookhill has a blog... check it out and follow us all summer long.

http://www.brookhillranch.blogspot.com/

Camp in Full Swing...

In honor of camp coming our way, I decided to write this blog in red. I love camp and always have, however, several things have changed for me as I go into this summer. I have realized one small factor about myself that I am praying the Lord grow me in, I am not really great with kids. Go figure. College age, sure, the camp staff, absolutly, but kids... not my gifting. I have realized that is a fact that can no longer exist.


So, this summer, as I stand in front of the staff with a fresh off the printer new pile of staff training notes in hand, I challenge them as well as myself. I have been typing feverishly between the diaper changes, bottle feedings and strawberry shortcake reruns, redoing ALL of my staff training lectures.


I teach one session on How to sell your activity. Well, it is my revelation that campers dont come for our activities... so why do I spend a whole hour on how to sell it? Campers come for our staff. So, that being said, everything is changing!


For the first time in several years, I have a new vision. I feel as though I have a direction. For myself as well as our Staff.


I look forward to blogging about the summer and the same things God has been doing for the last 40+ years in a whole new way. Keep us in your prayers as we connect with every camper who walks through our doors. Pray that they find a home here at Brookhill. That is what this ranch has been and will always be... a home to anyone who needs it!





Nothing to do with camp but so cute pic!

A Culinary Experience

Tonight I had dinner for my brother in law Mark and his fiance Kim. They drove down to Hot Springs to tell us they were engaged! We could not be happier for them. Because they were staying with us, I decided to make a special dinner in their honor. I love it when every burner on my stove is full. I had fresh green beans with a few red onions, purple cabbage, turkey burger steak cooked in french onion soup, sauted onions and peppers and sliced, roasted sweet potatoes. It was great!

The food was declicious but what even topped it off what the way it looked on the plate. The presentation was spectacular!

Hayrides, Smores and Lightening Bugs!

So we had the Leader's Academy Students over last night for Frog More Stew, a hayride and smores. It was a blast! The kids had a great time and it was a great use for our yard. The boys played football before the hayride. Mike was so proud of the yard. All the work he has put into it really paid off.

After dinner was over, Mike took the kids on a hayride and he made a huge bonefire and they didn't smores. Campbell loved all of that! Carson was unable to make the trip.

On the way back to the house, we stopped the hayride in the middle of the field and caught lightening bugs. They were everywhere! It looked like twinkle lights going off in over the grass. I got a mason jar from my shed and Mike poked holes in the top of it so we ran all over the field catching lightening bugs for Campbell's jar. The LA kids pitched in. It was amazing how many of them had never seen a lightening bug. Wow!

Over all, it was a great night. So American. I mean, eating food right off the table with no plates or silverware, football in the backyard, a hayride and smores and running through a pasture catching lightening bugs for a mason jar... You can't get any more American than that! God Bless the USA!

Ahhh Mother's Day

So I'm pretty sure that I have the best husband in the world! This picture doesn't have anything to do with what I'm saying about him, it's just a cute one!

Anyway, for mother's day, he bought me a night at the Embassy Suites Hotel and a message in their spa. And to make it even better, if that's possible, he talked my brother in law into doing the same this for my sister. It was so much fun! With Carson being almost 3 months, it's been a while since I've had a good night's rest.

Then I got to thinking about it... maybe it is true, nothing says "Happy Mother's Day" like a whole night away from your kids!

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Potty Training... Not for the faint of heart!

So like most discoveries I've made in parenting... Potty Training is not for the faint of heart. Wow! I just keep telling myself that she will use the potty at some time in her life. When that time is... no one knows! Until then, I will continue to use the sticker chart, the balloons, the streamers, the books, the candy etc... Again, no one tells you this kind of stuff before you have kids.

Cutest Kids In America!

So I know that all parents think their kids are the cutest... but check these kids out! I think I take the prize here...

Happy Birthday Campbell

Campbell turned 3 today and the day was a perfect success! The weather was beautiful and Campbell was in a spectacular mood and so excited about EVERYTHING!

We went swimming at Nana and Poppi's house and had pizza (her favorite) for lunch. She had to try out her new swimsuit!

A girl in our church makes cakes and I had her make a Strawberry Shortcake Cake and it was spectacular! Campbell loved it. It really made the day special.

Her friends had a great time at the party! The only thing she said she wanted was stuff that was pink and party hats. So... that's what we did! Party hats for all!

We had balloons on every table and the tables were covered in pink and green tableclothes (the colors of Strawberry Shortcake in case you are unfamiliar with that).

Of course Campbell had her own special party hat that she wore ALL day long until her nap at 2. She loved it. She also got a Strawberry Shortcake doll and a Tinkerbell balloon that lights up which she carried around

I'm not sure who started the "party favors" tradition and I'm not sure how I feel about it, however, being the good mother that I am, I followed tradition and the sunglasses were a huge success!

After all has been said and done... my little girl is 3 year old and it has been the most precious 3 years of my life. Watching her grow, change, get a personality and opinions, become beautiful... my cup runneth over! Thank you Lord for my daughter. Thank you Lord that she is mine! Protect and guide her...

And I think to myself... What a Wonderful World!