Macky Bear 7

From the moment you were born little baby boy, I knew something was different.

You stole my heart like non other and I just couldn't keep my lips off your cheeks!

 You are such a special boy Mack.

You're heart is tender and sensitive.

You have a deep desire for everyone to know Jesus and you pray earnestly for your friends.

You are kind and compassionate.

 "I want to make my own Valentine's for my class Mommy.  

And I'm going to make Natalia's the most special because she has cancer."

You have a deep understanding of God and His grace and mercy.

You are quick to say you're sorry and quick to forgive.

As I sat at the computer one evening, long after you were asleep, 

I heard someone come in behind me.  You were crying.

"What's the matter buddy?"

"Mommy, remember when Georgia was at swim practice last year and you brought me goldfish for a snack?  You asked me if you could have some and I didn't share.

I'm so sorry Mommy."

As you lay in bed at night, you contemplate your days and the regrets that are brought to mind hit your little heart and you go to make things right.

Macky, you have a sensitive heart that desires purity and God will use you in mighty ways.

You make me laugh all the time.

You are so quick witted and funny!

Your confidence is a gift that allows you the freedom to be who God has made you to be.

Your sissys love you soooo much, sometimes perhaps a little too much!

But the day is quickly approaching when you will tower over them and take great care of them!

"Macky, do you want an ice cream sandwich?"

"YES!  But let's wait until sissys get home so they can have one too."

You are selfless and have always wanted to include your sisters in all the joys of life.

You're 7 today!

A new year is before you.

I pray that God protects your tender heart and continues to draw you closer to Himself.

I pray that your compassion for others deepens as you grow up in a world that desperately needs to know God's love.

I pray that your sense of humor brightens up the days of all you come in contact with.

I pray that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved and that 

God has great plans for you.

Happy Birthday Mack!

Splish Splash

Just off the heels of our Mexican vacation,

we had a little pool party to celebrate our girls' 8th birthday!

We did a little fun photo wall and as our guests arrived, they posed with the birthday girls by the water wall.

(the photos will later become our thank you cards)

I pulled some old photos of the girls in bathing suits from the time they were 5 month old!

Made me cry a little!

We made some lemon cupcakes and a 

chocolate "8" pool cake!

In the pool we did some fun relays - 

Instead of diving for things, we threw a ton of ping pong balls in the pool and the teams had to jump in, one at a time, get 1 ball and swim it to a basket at the end of the pool.  The team with the most balls in the basket won!

We also did a little noodle race!

A big SPLASH was had by all!

Whew, another birthday down in the books!

Why do they keep growing?

2 in 1

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me on Wednesday!

I had a great time speaking to a group of some wonderful women.  They made me feel so welcome and at ease.  They are truly a unique group of women who are getting it right when it comes to supporting one another, loving each other and being in authentic relationship with one another.

I was rather nervous, but time and again God kept reminding me that I'm a mere broken vessel that He chose to use.  It wasn't about my words, it was about obedience.

I'm grateful that in the Bible, God promises that when His word goes out, it does not return void, but accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent!  My words felt a tad scattered at times and not as "tight" as I'd like, but it wasn't about me.  It was about His Spirit speaking through me.

And personally, it was a huge step in my journey with anxiety to get to do something I've dreamed about and thought I could no longer do, even if I was a bit rusty!

God is the faithful healer and redeemer and I know this was another step in His redemptive process!

So thank you!

 

Now, onto the 7th birthday party wrap-up!

 The girls really wanted a luau party this year with hula dancers, swimming and tiki torches!  Tall order girls!  Since we are re-landscaping (remember the trees?), I couldn't pull off an outdoor party, so I talked them into a little indoor cooking party where we kept it small and simple.

They chose the name "The Yummy Twin Café" for their restaurant!

 

They started by making little cookie cakes where they could, stack them, frost them, and take them home on a little cake pedestal.

 

Then onto making dinner

Stuffed Shells and Pizza

 

We played a little game of Guess the Food.

I got 5 brown bags, placed food in each (chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, marshmallows, cheerios, and cake balls)  I told the girls that we eat with our eyes, nose and mouth.  So they smelled the bags and tried to guess what each was.  Then we did blind taste tests and they guessed again.  It was fun!

 

Daddy switched out the table décor while we played.  He put down brown paper and crayons for the girls to color on during dinner.  The napkins were dish towels.

These little girls were wild!  I thought having a small group would make things easier, but those 7 little girls had more energy than 15 girls!!!

 

Time for our traditional vanilla cake with lemon filling and whipped cream frosting.  This year one wanted strawberry filling, so we did half and half.

 As we sang Happy Birthday, one little girl thought it would be funny to blow out all the candles first!

And it was really funny!!

 

So I re-lit the candles, sang again, and the other little lady blew out all the candles!
 

Each girl left with her apron, chef's hat, cookie cake, and cake pedestal.

A great time was had by all!

Can I tell you a secret?

Out of all the birthday parties I've given, this one was the smallest, most simple - the kids made their own dinner! (I had the girls make an extra pan of stuffed shells that I froze for dinner this week! - brilliant!!)

and I was by far the most exhausted after it!

But the little ladies had a blast and that's all that matters!

Have a great weekend!!