Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Checkout our newest family photos at: capturingjoyfulmemories.typepad.com
My friend DeLisa took our latest family photos. She has such a talent at capturing beautiful pictures.
Here are some videos of "Miss Independent" being cute over the weekend!

Cinderella

Honestly, I didn't train her to do this!! They literally imitate EVERYTHING you do! Joey must be in for it....2 clean freaks in the house!!

How beautiful is this baby!??!

Halloween

Geez, my husband comes home and I just quit bloggin! Well, I've got some catching up to do, so here are pics from Halloween! Emmy was a doctor this year! She loved it, and we're still playing w/ all of her doctor toys! One of my friends, had this "crash cart" that she gave to Emelyn. It was the icing on the cake! There's one pic of Emmy and one of her sweet little friends from church, Jack. Also, I put the picture of Emmy learning to open the pantry doors. No other door in the house is she interested in opening....odd, huh?!?! :)

DADDY'S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My amazing husband has FINALLY returned home...safe and sound!! Oh, how I have missed him! Emmy was a little indifferent at first, maybe even a little scared. But today my heart was filled with joy when I saw her smiling little face, run across the living room right into his arms! I am so proud of my husband for selflessly answering a call to serve our country during a time of war. Welcome home!!!!!!!!!!

check out this link: http://www.newsok.tv/?titleID=1856952266

Pretty Princess

So, I've had my doubts that Emmy G would a prissy little girl. I've been thinking she'd be a tom boy. She loves bugs and dirt and being outside, but over the past month or so, I've seen her favorite toys become those that, being a woman, I know she'll never outgrow...SHOES, JEWELRY and PURSES!!! And, of course, a hot car!! We are, however, going to have to work on this modesty issue! You think Daddy's in for it?

Blog Failure

Well, I have been trying for WEEKS to post this blog about Emmy's great grandparents, and for whatever reason, the blog will not upload the pics, so I'm starting fresh! In July, Joey's Grandma and Papa flew us to visit them in N. Carolina...it was such a great trip! I really had some much needed relaxation time b/c Joey's mom was there to help w/ Emmy, and I have to say N. Carolina was BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to go back w/ Joey. We spent the 4th there, but Emmy was a little too tired to celebrate. Plus she wasn't too fond of the fireworks. I guess that's a good thing! Oh yeah, and it was Emmy's first time to the beach! What did she love most about it?.....Eating it!! Let's try the pics again!

The Great State Fair

Well, I took Emmy to the fair for the first time ever! She learned very quickly what the fair was all about....FOOD!!!! :) She loved it! Corn dog on a stick, cheesecake on a stick, indian tacos, and of course, funnel cake! We took her to Agtropolis, where she got to learn alot about agriculture and the BUGS of Oklahoma. Her favorite part was by far, the sheep! She kept pointing to them and saying, "baa". Too cute! Then we went to the free concert by an Okie native, Graham Colton. I can see my little girl being the best "groupie" ever. Watch the video and see for yourself!

Naughty, Naughty

Emmy is definately imitating EVERYTHING she sees these days. These pictures are from last week. I was doing the online banking thing, and thought she was at my feet reading a book. Then I kept hearing this "swoosh" sound. I looked down and she had 6-7 kleenexes out of the box and she was trying to blow her nose with them. I took the box from her, and decided it was okay to let her play with the kleenexes while I finished. Well, I guess Toby decided he wanted in on the deal (in case you didn't know....he can smell a kleenex a mile away! He loves to tear them up and eat them!! From the box...from the trash...he doesn't care) So I just kinda sit back to watch this and sure enough...Emelyn sees Toby eating the kleenex and she goes from the appropriate nose blowing play to let's eat some kleenex. So not only will your kids imitate you, but they will imitate your pets. They always say, becareful what you say around little ears, well, be careful what you let your dogs do around your kids!

Blog Boycotters

Well, I have no pics of Emme to post because SHE'S NOT HERE. It's been a rough night since I left bible study....missing the closeness of my little one, BUT I am so thankful that my sweet friend said, "Here's the deal, I'm gonna do this for you". Anyway, I love you E and you're gonna be a GREAT mommy!
So I'm sitting here on the computer, instead of being in the jacuzzi tub like I should be, reading a friend's blog, and it was linked to this other blog that I got to reading (I completely don't know this girl), and all of the sudden God spoke to me. That's right, you blog boycotters (AMY G), God spoke to me through a blog! The gist of it was about purpose and places. Which may not make sense to any of you because maybe tonight it was just meant for me, but I'll share the scripture anyway.

........Through the prophet, Jeremiah, God told them, “You’re not going home any time soon, so start making your lives here. Plant gardens, buy homes, let your children get married, and pray for the peace and prosperity of the place where you’re currently living because, by doing that, you too will be blessed with peace and prosperity” (Jeremiah 29:5-7). Don’t invest your energy in hopes of leaving; instead invest your energy in the people around you. Don’t be physically present but mentally somewhere else, thinking of the future or the past, thinking of someplace else. Our journey with Jesus requires we be fully present in the present. You may feel like you’re in exile too, but God is still working in your life; and his message to you is: Dig in and fully embrace the life around you.

To my Wed. night girls....I have been so blessed through our fellowship and friendships!! Thank you for accepting me, and listening to all of my stories! :)

The First Ponytail!

Hair has been a LONG time coming! At 13 months old, my sweet Emelyn Grace finally has enough hair to put in a ponytail. Not enough for it to lay back down thought, so we look a bit like Bam Bam! What a ham! Here she is fixing it!

I have let this past week strain my emotions. I'm just tired of this deployment! The lonliness is really sinking in, and I have felt physically, mentally, and emotionally drained with a compilation of issues between home and work. I stumbled across this verse, and knew God was speaking directly to me with it. This is my prayer:

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (The Message)
"So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. "

"It's Like a Heat Wave!"

I'm finally posting a picture of my husband!! As we are experiencing a record setting heat wave here in the great state of Oklahoma, I have vowed not to complain. Joe is having to deal with it alot worse, and he doesn't have the option to walk around in a tank top and shorts like I do! He has to wear a thick long sleeved uniform all day! Service men and women will forever have a special place in my heart. They put their lives on hold to go to the least desirable of places in order to serve their country. And I'll tell you firsthand that they don't call home and complain about it too much! I'm so proud of you, baby! (come home soon)

The Tongue

Emelyn is getting THREE new teeth. She skipped her incisors and eye teeth and is getting in the ones right behind them...which are ACTUALLY her MOLARS...I guess babies don't have premolars. Like my knowledge of "tooth anatomy"?! Must be a speech pathologist thing! Anyway, she LOVES to rub her tongue across them. She runs all over the house with that little tongue going in and out! I got a video of her at my friend Brittany's house, where she's eating a lime! This is what her tongue does all day.

Also, I thought I'd post some pics of the sick dog. He's over it....I HOPE! No poop, pee or vomit in 2 days now!!!

Also, my little one has a new favorite. She loves "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See". If you have a child and do not have this book, I highly suggest you get it (it's $5 at Kohl's right now). It's great for teaching animals, colors, and animal sounds! As much as I love it, I have to say I'm getting a little tired of Brown Bear. It's so cute the first couple of times she brings the book to you and wants to snuggle up in your lap and read it, it really makes you feel like you're doing a great job being a mom. Then you're finished reading the book, and she wants it again, and you're thinking, "yeah, my baby girl likes to read!". So you read the book again. But by about the 5th time, you kinda get tired of reading the same words again, so you pick a different book. Well, that just won't do!! So anyway, I tried hiding the book once.....she found it! So, I've just conceded to the fact that it's just part of parenting. You have to give in when they want to do something over, and over, and over again......

The Truth about Dogs and Babies

I remember this conversation I had with a couple of my dearest friends. One had just had a baby, and I had just gotten my "sweet" dog, Toby. My friend, Holly, was talking about the never ending days and nights of being a mommy, and I popped off and said....."Well, I can't wait to have a baby. It will be so much easier than taking care of my dog!" They both laughed so hard they almost wet their drawers. I was as serious as the sun, though. Well, here I stand almost 4 years later, the proud parent of a one year old, and my position has NOT changed! Especially, after the week I've suffered with my "sweet" dog Toby.
Monday morning I awoke to discover that my dog had become sick (BOTH ends) ALL...OVER...MY....HOUSE. Yes, that's right. So, I called into work and spent the next 2 hours, cleaning my carpets, taking comforters to the cleaners, getting a professional to come re-clean the carpet and taking poop samples to the vet! Not only my patience, but my pocket book, has suffered from the illness of this dog. I told Joey that I don't think we've ever spent that much money on Emmy in one day! Well, Toby was sick for 3 days straight (both ends...just a reminder). I thought he was over it today, but I'm sitting in the living room, and he walks in and just pees, right there on the floor!!! UGH...... I think I'm just going to leave it as "that's all I have to say about that." I've never really prayed for an animal, but PLEASE pray that my dog will STOP having accidents on my floors!!!

Okay, I can't post without putting up some info about Emmy G! Here is her in the midst of her "Flat Daddy" phase. She's crazy about her Daddy! This isn't the best of the "Flat Daddy" videos, but it was the only one small enough to fit on here. I'm learning this technology thing, slowly.....

Hula by the Poola

Oh yeah....there was swimming, too!! Fun was had by all! At least I hope so! Birthday parties are ALOT of work, but it was worth it. It was a special day that I'll never forget. Thanks to all who came or were there in spirit. Emelyn's family may be small, but God has blessed us with an "extended" family of amazing friends!! Emmy cannot ever say that she isn't loved enough!!!

Emmy's Birthday

Okay, I'm going to backdate on a few posts because since I started this all so late in the first year of my daughters life, I missed out posting on some important milestones. So here are a few pics from her first birthday. Those older folks don't lie when they say, "time flies". They all said, "She'll be walking before you know it." I never thought the day would come, but now I can't keep up with her!! I love being a mom!!! Oh, and her birthday we EXTRA special because her DADDY was home!! It took a few days, but they really bonded and she began to remember him.

I Saw God Today

I hear this song on the radio about everyday....and I like it. (I'm back into a country music phase) Anyway, I like that title because there are those moments when I make myself sit and be still before God, and I silently reflect on my day....in those moments I can see where God was with me and was revealing Himself to me all day long...times at work are especially evident. I am so blessed to get to work with children.
" But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16
The children I work with remind me of the truth in this verse. Everday I see pure joy flowing from their hearts...the same joy that resides in my soul because it belongs to God....but too often I let the daily downers of this world hide my joy and it doesn't flow as freely as it does with these kids. It makes me wish all of them weren't confined to a hospital, because it means that so few people have the opportunity to know them. I do not know ONE person that has entered the doors at TCC and not been moved by spending a few moments with these children. They see God clearly, they love God wholeheartedly, they accept Him without question. What would the world be like if all Christians "let their light shine" like these kids do? I want to be like them. I LOVE hearing my grandparents say that I am their "pride and joy", and I think that's how Jesus was refering to children in this scripture. I want him to say that about me, too!

Moving into a New Era

So all of my friends either Blog, or have a MySpace account, or do Facebook. Me NONE.... so to appease them all, I'm starting a blog in which to update you all about my life and my PRECIOUS baby girl!

This week has been more than chaotic. It all started with the accident I had in Joey's truck, which was, yes, MY FAULT! It was hard to tell him, but I had to. Marriage is built around trust, and honesty and all that stuff.... He took the news pretty well. Let's just hope he's going to take the how much it's going to cost to fix it news really well. Anyway, then I've been working on getting this communication device for one of my kids that I work with, and Medicaid had to deny it. I complained about all the time I put into that evaluation and letter of recommendation, and how mad I was that they just dismissed it, and then I started thinking of the 11 years he's gone without a truly effective and independent way to communicate with the world, and I got even more upset. Then on top of that I'm still dealing with the sale of my grandma's house (she passed away last September). The state, medicaid, wants more money for her nursing home stay than I can get from selling the house....so no one can come to an agreement, and everything is just in limbo.

I was sitting here tonight chatting with Joey online, and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" kept popping in my head. I guess the Holy Spirit was getting tired of my complaining and was trying to tell me something. I've been memorizing some scripture with the ladies at church, and this was the verse from 2 weeks ago: "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22

So, I'm not going to let the happenings of this week get me down. And actually, writing it all out on here made me realize that it's really not that big of a deal. So, I like this blogging business already! Hope I can keep up with it!!! -HD