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I know, I know...I have more than 3 pictures...I've been doing it most of the year! Ha! I started out good with 1 picture per day...Then, got behind and started with collages, and now, I'm winging it!  These are pictures of "Pioneer Day" at the Spring Mountain Ranch here in Vegas...Super fun!  This is finally the last of what we did in September...Dang, we were busy, but great family memories...There so precious to me and I know my kids will appreciate all that we do together as a family... 

The LORD has been working on me, tweaking me day by day...I have the basics down, now I need some major fine tuning...Oh, rid me of myself...Love that song...I feel it when I say it, I tell ya! Really, rid me of myself...Break my heart for what breaks Yours...Let me see what You see...It's pretty amazing when you surrender and the LORD shows you all of that...Amazing good and amazing bad...don't like the bad, I see self...Yuck! 

Anyway, I mentioned the LORD, well, because He's always on my mind and because as He works on me I also see changes in my boys...Truly, they are growing, being shaped, molded, and crafted  by the Master Carpenter...I'm really proud of the boys they are, and looking forward to the men they will be...

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity....1 Timothy 4:12

Panning for gold:

 Candle Making:

A German Bible...Look what the sign says that was next to it...Ha!

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It doesn't seem real that we celebrated our little Lovely's 1st Birthday today...Oh, how I wish I could post a picture of my little chocolate princess! She is beautiful, magnificent, amazing, clever and just a sweet blessing from the LORD! 

Even if it was our last day with her (I cringe as I say this) we are still blessed! We are definitely vested in this relationship...When your BOYS stop playing their boy things and want to play with their Lovely, you know there in love...It's so sweet, they take time out just to play with her...Forget when   she wakes up from a nap, my boys fight..."Mom, he got to carry her downstairs yesterday." "Mom, I want to sit next to her." "Mom, no fair, he always gets her first"...Ha! Music to my ears...

What more could a mom ask for?  

Today I text messaged the case worker to remind her about Lovely's birthday...She was so excited and said she would put the TPR through today as her birthday present  (TPR-terminate parent rights)!!! 

Sounds great, but to me, it's not real until Lovely takes our last name...It does look pretty good for us, but you just never know what is going to happen when your on this end of it...Foster care is hard, but don't be discouraged...

It's a journey, it's a blessing, and it will test your faith...But remember, the King of King's already knows who our baby is and HE knows who your baby will be....If you remember, please continue to pray for us but, most of all,  please pray for the birth mom's Salvation...

 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...Jeremiah 29:11

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I'm still trying to post all the family outings we've been on this month...This is really our time that we go crazy with activities...It's starts to cool down in Vegas and we take total advantage of it...It gets so hot in the summer it's hard to last outside for hours at a time...But, this time of year is awesome for hikes, parks, or just being outside...The last set of pictures I posted was a hike that we did, that I LOVE! It's hot getting to the waterfall, but so worth it...The pictures below are of us at the Springs Preserve...I took more, but these are the ones that made me smiles the most...

It's never been a dull moment being married to my husband, he has a blast everywhere he goes...So do I  and so do my kids...We are our own comedy show...I think sometimes people don't get our corny, dry, weird sense of humor...I've definitely developed it over the years...He's so funny, I just crack up thinking about him...

Love you baby!

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Hey-I'm just posting more pictures SOOC...

Keepin it real, you know..

Yep, that's right, shooting in manual still...Yep, just wanted to share how great these manual shots are...

Yep, that's what I'm doing here,

 showing my SOOC shots...

Nooooo, I'm not bragging...Stop it now!! 

I didn't post these because my husband looks yummy for a 40 yr old man ...This is business people...I'm a very professional photographer exposing my talent...Gosh!!!

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Just some shots-SOOC 

(Ok, so I used the whitening tool on my kids teeth), I HAD to!!!

I'm shooting in manual now, well trying...I have other pictures I'm getting ready to post, but shooting in manual has been a challenge, so I will be editing them.... 

 

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Hurray, my boy is old enough for our home school youth group!!! Hurray! 

I'm so excited for my boy to be in the youth group...I couldn't wait for my boy to turn 10 so that he could be in this group...The funny thing is, Mikey is not able to attend the activities with youth group because he is only nine ..So, I have to drop Mikey off somewhere or drop Matthew off, hence, they are separate! They definitely don't like the idea of being apart...When I tell Matt the plan for the weeks to come, he gets excited for the activity, then sad because Mikey won't be there, then excited again...There's such a different dynamic to brothers, and to brothers that are best friends, like them...I LOVE it...The separation will be good for them...I'm looking forward to see how the LORD will make changes in their lives from being separated...

These are pictures of the 1st youth group gathering...Ice Cream and their favorite topic was the theme for the week...Yum...We also played Catch Phrase...It was so fun...These are the other kids that will be in the group...It will be exciting to see the changes the LORD will do in all of these girls and boys, as well...

Praise JESUS for changes!!

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September is here, my favorite time of year...Hey, that rhymes!  

It's still hot, with some added humidity, but it's on it's way of being cooler out...The bummer about that is fall doesn't usually last that long here in Vegas...What is great though,  Mt. Charlston is only about 45 minutes away and it drops 20-30 degree's cooler...

And so our outing begins...I LOVE it up there...It's just nice and relaxing...We got to our destination, had some chilly dogs with cheese, some fruit in a can, and we are good to go...

(My husband fixed the menu, not bad)

This was little Lovely's first hike...I was so excited for her to be a part of what we usually do, so I decided I would wear the baby carrier...I've been running, Ha! 

I'm thinking, hmmm, I got this baby...I thought we were going for a friendly stroll on some paved ground...Oh no, my husband had me walking a mile in a half on dirt and rocks, UPHILL with a 2000 ft. elevation...I didn't say I was an elite runner for pete's sake!! He totally offered to take the baby, but no, I had to much pride, I was doing it! And it was hot because on the trail there wasn't any shade...I had to step off the trail to get shade...Oh and I did about 10x...See, there I am taking a break (top left photo)...We turned around and came back down...A lot easier for me...Overall, it was awesome...Sweet family time...My kinda time!