Our 4th of July

Chancelor & Layla getting their faces painted

We had a wonderful 4th of July! The kids enjoyed the fun, food, music and fireworks. There were so many people that came to the celebration and I believe everyone that came had a wonderful time. It was so late last night when we got home so I decided that I'd blog today. I hope each and everyone of you had a wonderful holiday!!!

Chancelor & Layla riding on the train!

Layla & Uncle EthanLayla's new friend Chloe giving her kisses :)

Chancelor loved the homemade ice cream!


Layla & Ms. Joan

Layla also learned about funnel cake and realized how yummy that stuff is. Here are a few pictures of her eating.

Here are a few pictures of Chancelor eating funnel cake with Layla.

Layla & Ms. Kaye


Casey Brown

Pastor Greg

Taking the flag down

Ms. Julia Dean & Layla

Ready for the fireworks!!!

Independence Day

July 3, 2008


Yesterday we went up to Grandma & Papa's to visit. The kids really enjoyed eating corn as my grandma cleaned it. Chancelor also had some fun running and hiding in the bushes, above is a shot of him in the apple tree.




Yesterday afternoon my mom came to get Chancelor and he stayed with her. I called this morning to check on him and he was doing well. They decided that they were going to go out on the boat with my stepsister and her family, since they were in from Mississippi. We joined them and had a fun time. On our way home we all stopped at Dairy Queen and had some ice cream! Chancelor had such a great time with his cousins that he decided he wanted to stay with Nana & Papa again tonight. He did inform me that he wanted me to go pick him up so he could go to the fireworks! Here are some pictures from today's adventure.

While riding on the boat today, I was thinking about Independence Day. What does Independence Day mean? On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.

My heart swells with pride as I think of the many men and women that have fought and continue to fight for our freedom as a nation. Many families will be incomplete this 4th of July, due to many that have family members serving in our military. Many incomplete due to the loss of a family member that served in our military. Our freedom as a nation is constantly secured due to the men and women who sacrifice the time with their family to protect it. My prayers are with you all!

While thinking of all this I'm moved to think of my greater freedom - My freedom in Christ. This freedom comes from being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In John 8: 31-32 Jesus says "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

4th of July is a great time to consider our freedom not only as Americans but as Christians. National freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth. If you don't know the freedom in Christ that I'm talking about, I pray that you will hear about it, learn about it, accept it, and experience it!

Tomorrow we plan on going to a 4th of July celebration in the community I grew up in. With BBQ plates, grilled corn on the cob, hot dogs, hamburgers, games for the kids, and entertainment it's sure to be a great time. Whatever your plans are for the 4th, I hope you remember the men and women that fought and continue to fight to protect our freedom. I hope you remember their families as well. I would also like to challenge you to celebrate not only the freedom of our nation but the freedom that we all experience through Christ.

Until next time May God continue to pour his blessings upon you and your family as he has ours!

Have a Wonderful 4th of July!!!

Let's go fishing....

Chancelor was gone for the weekend and Layla was pretty lonely. Chancelor goes to visit his Daddy every other weekend and it was like this weekend was the first weekend Layla noticed. It was really sad. We did have lots of fun though. On Saturday, Layla went to visit Aunt Heather, LoLo, & Yaya. She went swimming again and was asleep when we got there to pick her up. On Saturday night, Layla had a friend come over and stay with her. Alyssa is a bit younger than Layla, but it was so much fun watching the two of them. Here are a few pictures of Layla and Alyssa :)


Chancelor got home Sunday night around 5:30 or 6:00 and was so excited to see Alyssa. We went up to visit Grandma & Papa and played with them for awhile before we came back home. Alyssa's mom came to get her about 8:00 and it was time to put tired little kids to bed.


As Chancelor went to bed Monday night he wanted to know what we had planned for the following day. I told him that I had to go get tags for the car and that when we were done with that, we'd be going to the library to return some books and get him some more. It was about 12:30 when we got back from running errands and both the kids were starving and in much need of a nap! The kids were getting up from there naps about the time Sheldon was getting home, so both of them were really excited to see him. Ayden's dad called back about an hour after Sheldon got home about taking the kids fishing. Chancelor was excited! Here are a few pictures of the kids fishing.


Today while we were visiting Ayden the kids were playing around and I'll admit Chancelor gets a little rough at times. I don't think he's being mean but he just doesn't understand that all kids aren't like that. There was laughter then crying, saying I'm sorry and giving a hug, and back to laughter. A simple apology and hug made everything all right again. If only we as adults would look at our children and how they react to things, we'd learn so much. If only we could forgive and get past things like our children, what a better place this would be. Kids are AMAZING and I learn so much from mine.

We got home tonight from our fishing adventure and that's all Chancelor could talk about. He had such a wonderful time and can't wait to go back and play with Ayden again. We got the kids baths, fed them, and finally they are in there beds sleeping like angels. Chancelor will be staying with his Nana tomorrow night and is really excited about that, he doesn't know that he has family that is coming in from Mississippi. On Thursday we will all be at Nana's to visit with the family and it will surely be a great time.

I hope each of you reading this will have a wonderful week and remember to thank God for the blessings in your life. Each day we have with our family is a blessing and we never know when it might be our last. My prayer is that I will never take that for granted and I will always have a thankful heart!

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Until next time May God pour his blessing upon you and your family!!

Dewalae