Happy Birthday Aunt Jennifer!!!

Me and Jen

Jen and Ryan (Kelly's brother)

Aunt Jen and Aspen

Today is Jen's birthday!
Jen, I'm so glad God brought you into my life. You are a strong and beautiful woman who has taught me a lot. Your love for your husband, your children, and your God is inspiring. You have been such a prayer warrior for Kelly and I (and Aspen!). We started out as family through marriage and thankfully have become friends and sisters over the years.
HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY!!!

Face paint/make-up

Last week several shops and vendors hosted an evening of shopping, music, food and entertainment near downtown. It was simple, but a nice "small town" atmosphere. I think they are going to do it every third Wednesday evening through the summer months for those of you interested in attending.

Anyway, Aspen had her face painted. She was hilarious. The girl sat so still for what I think she thought was "make-up." She would turn her face up and let the lady paint on both cheeks. Then she kept going back for more. Such a silly girl!

Aspen's first fishing trip!

Tuesday evening we decided to take Aspen out on the boat for the first time. Haystack Reservoir is only 15 minutes away. She LOVED it! She is daddy's girl for sure! It was amazing to see her acting so natural around the water and in the boat. She even held her (barbie) fishing pole like a pro! Daddy taught her how to reel and she doesn't quite get the concept of holding the pole in one hand and reeling with the other, but I know daddy will make sure she has LOTS of practice!

The start of daddy and I fishing together for years to come.

Holding my pole over the water like a pro!

Our Pretty Baby.

He's in heaven!

The moon near Smith Rock on the way home was gorgeous!

Father's day hike at the Deschutes River trail

A father's day tribute to the men in my life

Aspen and I were fortunate enough to spend Father's Day with 2 of our 3 favorite guys. We didn't get to be with Grandpa Ron (Kelly's dad) in person, but we thought of him with lots of love.

I am so blessed to have grown up with a wonderful father, who was and still is, strong, supportive, encouraging, wise and respectable. His girls have really fostered a soft spot in his heart and he is always there if we need him. I have enjoyed seeing him become a grandpa. He is naturally good at it, and his face lights up whenever he sees his granddaughter. She is pretty fond of him too!

When Kelly and I married, I gained an additional father, Ron, who accepted and loved me unconditionally right from the start. He is patient, hard-working, and helpful. Kel has a lot of the same qualities I love about Ron. Much of the wonderful man Kelly has become is thanks to his father.

And then there is Kelly, and I have experienced some of the greatest joy of my life by watching him be a daddy. The first night in the hospital when Aspen was born, we woke up for a middle of the night feeding. Kelly held her after she was fed, and tears streamed down his face. He looked at me and whispered, "She is awesome. I already love her so much."
I love seeing him grow as a father and find it endearing that he already wants to protect her from boys. It's amazing that a man who kills game animals for sport can be melted into a tender, sweet pile of mush when he's talking to his little girl.

The Notebook

Will I ever be able to watch this movie without bawling my eyes out?

Strength

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

In my daughter's eyes...

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
It puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

(Martina McBride)

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

Well I did it. I CHOPPED my hair off. Ok, I paid someone to chop it off. My hair was making me hot, and I don't mean "sexy" hot, I mean sweating like a pig hot. Lovely, I know. Most of you know I have to take a medication that makes my internal temperature sky rocket, so I cannot stand my hair laying on my neck and back. I was tired of wearing it in a ponytail.
It's definitely not on my neck now! EEK!

It's such a big change. I've never ever had my hair this short. Kelly says he really likes it, but he's still getting used to something so different. I really do love it! I think.

New Aspenisms

Daddy: Aspen do you know where your shoes are?

Aspen: (while tilting her head) Ummmmmmmm.......nope.

*****

Aspen: (holding up a skirt) What's that?

Mommy: That is a skirt.

Aspen: Oh, cuuuute! Amazing.

*****

Aspen: (watching Grandpa walk away) JOHN! JOHN, COME EAR! (come here) GRAMPAAAA!

*****

Aspen: Ag-ez

Translation: Glasses

*****

Aspen: Chaulk-it

Translation: Chocolate

*****

Aspen: (while playing with my old barbies) NO BOOBIES! NO BOOBIES! NO BOOBIES!

Translation: Barbie's dress has fallen down and she is now showing her boobies and it makes me mad!

*****
Aspen's favorite song right now: "You are my shunshine."

Calm my anxious heart

LOVE this book by Linda Dillow. It's all about women and their struggle with, and desperate need for, contentment.


Just a few quotes from the book rolling around in my head today...

"What we are on the inside, what we continually think about, eventually shows in our words, actions, and even on our countenances."

and another quote about perspective...

"Two women peered through prison bars, one saw stars, the other saw mud."

And finally some passages that sum up the entire principle of the book. Although there is controversy at times over The Message and it's accurate translation, I am fond of the way these particular verses are explained.

Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.