DARE Graduation

McKenzie graduated from DARE today. Grandma and Grandpa Leonard arrived late last night and were able to attend. We are headed to Nashville tomorrow. We'll post more after that!

Finally a baseball game!

McKenzie looks so professional in her new sporting gear. They played their first official game today. It was hot, but nothing compared to what it is going to get later in the year. She played right field and didn't have a chance at batting. Maybe next time. She did a great job getting right to the ball and throwing it in!

She wasn't as excited about her contribution to the team as I was, but she did well. We were in a rush to the ball field, I thought the game as 1 1/2 hrs later than it really was. When I looked at the schedule and realized I had the mental note of the wrong time (wrong team). We rushed and I forgot my camera!!!!! In my book, that is a tragedy. I did convince her to let me take a few photos when I got home. She is growing so big!

Just Sayin'

Mickey is 15 lbs.....Just Sayin' :)

Cancelled Baseball Games

Unfortunatley McKenzie's baseball games have been cancelled. Montgomery had some rough weather this weekend. Her game last Tuesday was cancelled because of rain and lightning and with the big storm heading in this weekend, they didn't let them play on Saturday.
Obviously the air was unstable. I have never seen clouds like this. This was at 1 p.m. before the storm. The sky got quite a bit darker and we had lots of rain. It was a good thing the coaches cancelled the game! (I wouldn't have let her go anyway) The tornado sirens started at 3:45 p.m. It was the exact same time that her game was supposed to start. Thankfully no tornadoes touched down around us.

T-Ball Game

Miranda has finally played a T-ball game. We have had some that were cancelled because of rain.

She had a great time. She hit great and "ran" all the bases in the right order. We now need to work on running. She is hesitant to run when told to and speed walks between bases! It was so much fun. I can't wait for Kenzie's game.

Happy Easter

This is the chapel staff with Chaplain Cyr, this year's sunrise service speaker. Dave was the coordinator for the service. It was moved indoors because we were expecting record cold temperatures. When I was driving to the chapel this morning the car said it was only 40 degrees. It was a little warmer than expected, but when it was around 85 the week before, 40 is still cold!

During our normal Sunday service the youth put on a presentation. Miranda was an angel dancer. She did an outstanding job!

McKenzie was a dancer as well. She was blind and Jesus healed her! She did a great job too! It is so fun to watch your kids in the Easter programs. Who would have thought that I could have enjoyed having kids so much?

The girls had a visit from the Easter Bunny. We know that they know who the Easter Bunny is, but they don't dare tell, or he wouldn't come :) It was a perfect time for him to leave a new pink baseball bat and baseball tee that has a teathered ball that doesn't ever get too far away! It will be perfect for practicing.

We had a very busy day that started at 4 a.m. for Dave, so we had service and then came home and had a nap, went to another service and came home and had two blocks of neighbors over for dinner. It was great to have company over and enjoy Easter together. It is now 11 p.m. and Karaoke is over. What a full day!

Starbase Maxwell

The Fifth grade girls at Maxwell Elementary are at Starbase Maxwell this week (and one boy). It is a fun hands-on science program. Today was all about flight. Yesterday they launched rockets.

She played the part with her flight suit...

and flew the flight simulator

We went across the street to the aero club and sat in the plane that she simulated flying

I tried the simulator too. I was the only one that couldn't get the plane off the ground!

Baseball Practice

We are now in full gear with baseball practices. The games start next week. McKenzie's team had enough coaches!!! I was relieved to have a sufficient reason to not coach. The dads seem to be much better suited for helping the kiddos out :)


Miranda at third base

Miranda batting

McKenzie throwing the ball infield

McKenzie hiding from the camera

Specific Prayers

Well, I have stated earlier that I have ants in my pants for a move, so I decided to put up a visible reminder to pray. I posted a map of the world in the kitchen and pray that God would send us where we need to go in His time. I also made some specific requests :) It has been helpful for me to release some of my own desires. I can't change any of it anyway. The prayer seems to be doing a better job at changing me than anything else, funny how that works!

Smellin' Good

As a family, we have made some good strides at growing closer to God this week. One of our recent additions to prayers and conversation is to smell good to God and others around us. We don't mean smell literally, we mean attitude. We sometimes struggle with this. Anyway, we were having a family moment when one of us was not smelling so lovely. There was a family discussion (sometimes called a lecture.) After our discussion, Dave and I took a few moments of quiet time and discussed how we didn't get "through" and that we weren't seeing the growth that we were hoping to see in this area. When we came out, McKenzie was working diligently on a project. She was being very secretive. She unveiled this perfume bottle to Dave. We are very proud of her. She really is growing in this area. I know that it is a difficult time of life for her to navigate. I am so proud of her that I wanted you to see the perfume bottle too. Sometimes when we are talking.....we aren't talking to the wall!!! :)

P.S. Some of what we picked up is from "Facing the Giants." If you haven't seen it, rent it today! It really is worth the time to watch.

True Love

Dave knows that my love language is gifts. I thought I would show you. When he was in Iraq he brought home a puzzle ring from Turkey. It is a difficult puzzle to put together. Dave has been the only successful one to do it. I told myself that I wouldn't take it off again so that I wouldn't have to have him put it together....Well I took it off to put lotion on and didn't put it back on before Dave and I went out last night. Miranda couldn't resist touching it. I came home to a disassemble ring! I think after spending all morning putting it back together, I may be able to do it again. Thanks to the power of Google....I can do it. Just ask me, I can do ANYTHING with Google!!!

http://www.walshbrothers.co.uk/Update/puzzle_ring_solution.htm

Dave is also into country music. One of his favorite songs includes a wife with a yellow pair of running shoes. He has looked and looked and finally found some for me with a little yellow. He couldn't resist. The song also includes a holy pair of jeans....I told him not to touch mine!!!

Spring Break!

We have had a nice and relaxing Spring Break. We haven't gone anywhere special or done anything too exciting....just slept in and stayed in our PJ's most of the week :) We are waiting until Nanny Carol and Papa Pat come at the end of April before we take our trip. Here are a few highlights.
We have played outside....

And inside!!!! AGH!!!!!


It has since been cleaned up, but boy was there a lot of Barbie and Polly stuff out!

Just wait until they head back to school next week. I have the spring cleaning bug. I know I'm not pregnant. I'm not sure if it is anticipation for a new assignment, or if it is because spring has arrived. (Please be praying with me for our assignment)....I've been told that we aren't getting an assignment, but I have that conditioned feeling we are going to move. Maybe because when we were accessioned we were told 3 years in Alabama and we are almost there. I'm not sure if it is the 3 year cycle of military life, or if there is something to my gut feeling. Please, don't get me wrong. We aren't unhappy here. Dave is happy with his position here at Maxwell and the girls and I have a great life. I never imagined when I married Dave that I would ever say this, but I am looking forward to a new adventure in a big move (I'm hoping really big....overseas). The Lord has really changed me and suited me perfectly for a military wife lifestyle. So, whatever the case, if we move or if we stay, I know that I will serve the Lord where he has placed me. It's not about the landscape, it's about the people. I know that He will lead us to exactly where we need to be. He did here...I know He will again.

Lemonade and Concert

McKenzie sold tickets to her concert. She and her friend Paige sang and danced to the radio. It was quite cute.


Miranda sold lemonade before and after the concert. Both girls were quite motivated and had a lot of fun executing their ideas.

Dads Cheer Too!

Tonight the Cheer Coach and Moms convinced Dallas and Dave to cheer for parent's night. The basketball team played kids vs parents, so the parents cheered with the girls. It was a fun night out with the girls. I hope they appreciate their supportive dads!

Trip to Maxwell Fire Station

The girls were invited to go for a tour and enjoyed the short visit to the fire station.