Really Boring Post!

At least I warned you.....Why am I blogging?  That's a good question.  I really have nothing to report to my peeps.  It's been a pretty quiet week so far and a very cold one!  

OH, we did have a great dinner last night with Brian Bloye and his wife, Amy.  Brian started a church (Westridge) 10 years ago and was so nice to sit and talk with them last night about church planting and lots of other things!

I'm going to end this post now since I have nothing else to say....

Good Night!

Pastor/ Mechanic?

I found this so humorous last night......Pete "working" on his car.  Mom, you understand why this is funny.  Right??

The bottom of his car is dragging the ground.......and it still is today!

Great Weekend in the ATL.....

I can't believe it's already Sunday night.....

We had a fun filled weekend.  On Friday night, we met my mom  (dad was traveling) for dinner at Shogun and after dinner, Pete started feeling sick:(  

On Saturday, we had plans to meet up with Pete's whole family for a day at the aquarium.  He was so sick and could hardly get out of bed, so I took the kids and met them.  We had a wonderful time! Thanks Nana & Pap Pap for a very fun day! 

I got back home with the kids and he was beginning to feel better, so luckily I didn't have to bring the morning message for him at VL- maybe one day!! 

Church was great this morning. We are still in the Collision series which has been very challenging.  We had small group at our home tonight which was a bit crazy since our sitter didn't show up, but we still managed to have a great discussion!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

 

Fun Date Night...

On Thursday night, Pete and I were able to sneak away for a date night, which we try to do each week. (sometimes every other)

This week, he picked the restaurant and I picked the movie.  We love trying new places and eat ANY kind of food you put in front of us and the same goes for our children.  

But on Thursday, we ended up at The Varsity!!    It was so cold in there and was rainy outside that we ate our food really quick and jumped back in the car and sat in the car and talked until "Fools Gold" started. 

 It's so important just to have one on one time with your man (especially once the kids come along) and to have date nights!!  My chili/slaw dog was really yummy & the movie was cute.

Forgiveness.....

I borrowed this from another sweet friends blog and thought it was a great devotion:

Love Forgives… “…it keeps no record of wrongs.” I Corinthians 13:5

Love forgives continually and it forgives comprehensively. Forgiveness wipes clean the slate of offense, hence it is freeing for everyone. Indeed, forgiveness was the heartbeat of Jesus. Some of his last words requested forgiveness from God for the ignorant acts of His offenders (Luke 23:34). Christ’s greatest act of love was the forgiveness He extended by His voluntary death on the cross (Colossian 2:13-15). Jesus described His own act of love when He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:14). Jesus was the epitome of love and forgiveness; He owns the trademark.

Furthermore, forgiveness is the fuel for living a life free from the clutter of cutting words or unjust acts. A life without forgiveness is a lonely life locked up in a solitary confinement of sin. Forgiveness flows when you have been authentically and thoroughly forgiven. Half-hearted forgiveness is the destiny of those who have not tasted the tender touch of forgiveness from their heavenly Father. Unless the forgiveness of God has graced your heart and soul, your capacity for forgiveness will be foreign and futile. It is the grace of God and faith in Him that fuels forgiveness in followers of Christ. The job description of Christians is to love with forgiveness because we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13). Think about the depth and breadth of your forgiveness. Ignorant acts, they are forgiven. Drunkenness, it’s forgiven. Lust, it’s forgiven. Immorality, it’s forgiven. Hate, it’s forgiven. Ignoring God, it’s forgiven. Unbelief, it’s forgiven. Love forgives because it has been forgiven.

Remember where you were BC (before Christ) and reflect on where you would be today without His love and forgiveness. Recall what it was like to be lost and bound up in your sin and celebrate how far God has brought you. Love is extremely grateful for God’s goodness and redeeming power. Forgiveness is second nature and somewhat automatic for followers of Jesus who are consumed with Christ’s love. They are enamored with God’s love for them and others. When you have been forgiven much, you love much (Luke 7:47). Your capacity to love is directly tied to your willingness to receive Christ’s forgiveness. Accept the Almighty’s forgiveness so you can extend forgiveness. Let go of unforgiveness and replace it with His unconditional love. Love looks for excuses to eliminate hard feelings, as it replaces resentment and bitterness with love and forgiveness. Love by forgiving your family member who may not even know they hurt your heart. Love by forgiving your friend who volitionally violated your confidence. Love by forgiving your father and mother who are preoccupied parents. Love by forgiving your child who is ungrateful and selfish. Love by forgiving yourself for your stupid decisions. Forgiveness forgets the past, engages in the present, and hopes in the future. Extend forgiveness indiscriminately and receive it graciously. Delete any record of wrongs from the hard drive of your heart. Call, write, or initiate a freeing conversation of forgiveness. Reject the temptation for indignation and humbly receive God’s grace instead. Love liberally, by regularly relying on forgiveness. Love forgives!

Who says Disney is just for kids?

We're Back!!!!

We had a BLAST at Disney!! We packed it in on Monday and Tuesday and got home last night.  Monday, we started with a Breakfast with the Characters at MGM then went over to Magic Kingdom.  The highlight was definitely the time the kids got to spend with the characters.  Addie was adorable!! She really got in to the whole experience for the 1st time!  And of course, Hope always loves when we get a chance to go!

Tuesday, we hit the Animal Kingdom then spent a few hours at Epcot and had a fun dinner at one of our favorites, Ohana.....  

We had our share of drama when Addie started not feeling well on Tuesday night and threw up all over me (and my favorite blue jeans and jacket) in the Monarail.  Poor thing, there was nothing we could do and I was covered!! Luckily the people around us were gracious and understood since they all had kids as well.  It was another hour after that before we could get back to the resort we were staying at!  She is feeling better now!!  Gotta love it!!

Thanks Pete for skipping out on that conference you really wanted to go to and hanging with us instead!! Seriously, he's the best!!

I guess it's back to the "real world".......   

 

Disney Slideshow

I had so many picts that I decided to put some of the in a slideshow....enjoy

I have it set to music, but for some reason the music didn't show up on blogger.  It was "When you wish upon a star"

Last Minute Change of Plans!!!

We are going to see Mickey!! We were originally going to PC Beach for a few days since the kiddos are out of school, but the weather was not looking too great, so after much debate....we decided to go to Disney (and after some persuasion from some friends that are going as well)

I'm sure I will have lots of pictures to post once we get back.  I have both of my camera's packed just in case I loose one or something crazy happens.

Oh, Hope had a blast at the sleepover and was exhuasted tonight after playing outside with the neighbors ALL afternoon then going to 2 restaurants tonight.  We had dinner at one then went to visit with Papa and his entourage afterwards. Fun Times.

I'm off to bed.....gotta get rested up for church then off to Disney!

So Blessed.....

Pictures, Pictures, and more pictures....

Hopie and her friends after the "Q & U wedding"

Addie was thrilled to get to visit Hope's school

Our Valentine's Date!

Me and Christy

Pete & Jarrett

My Baby went to her 1st sleepover!

She may be 6 1/2 years old, but she is still my baby and she was SO excited about her 1st sleep-over.  One of her little friends was having 6 other little girls over for her birthday, so last night when I dropped her off they were already playing dress-up. 

I went and bought her that cute High School Musical sleeping bag yesterday, so she was all prepared for the evening! I guess we we see how she did later this morning when we pick her up!

Happy Valentines Day!!

I hope everyone has a great day with their Valentine!!  I have already been spoiled the past 2 days.  

Last night, Pete wanted to take our girls out and he let them pick the place.....and believe it or not, they both wanted SUSHI!! We had such a fun time and he brought us all gifts!  He was so thoughtful and had followed me around one of my favorite stores last week when we were out on our date night and I was just pointing out all the things I liked, then he went back and bought all of it!!  

Today, I had lunch with my dad and my sister which was nice!

After lunch, Addie and I went to Hope's school for a party.  They were so cute with all the Valentine's from her friends at school and they have SO much candy.  

.......until next time 

My Valentine......

Isn't he hot? He spent 2 hours with me today at Hope's IEP meeting with 7 of her teachers/therapists right in the middle of his "study day time"

I'm going to brag for a minute...that's OK right?  

I got home the other day from a normal day...carpool, grocery store, errands.....and there was a card laying on my computer and here is what it said:

Hollie,

I read about you today in my time in the scriptures.  I want to tell you  how much I love you.  

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.  Proverbs 8:22"

You are God's favor to me!

Love, 

Pete  

How sweet is that?  He always says, don't tell your girlfriends that stuff because you get me in trouble with the husbands!!

Great End to a Great Weekend!!

We had a very relaxing time with our friends at their lake house Friday and Saturday!! We did eat way too much at the dillard house then had smores around the fire and laughed until my face hurt!  Thanks to Nana  & Pap Pap, the kiddos had a great time as well. 

Addie & Ava singing in church.....so cute

Happy Hopie!!

Pete sharing his "happy heart" children's message!

Today was Children's day at VL!  We had parent/child dedication both services and the children also sang in both services.  

Pete's message was about coming to Christ with child-like faith!  

We were lucky enough to have Mimommy with us today at church too!!   Addie did ask me why her Papa never comes to our church! 

 Sundays are a long day for us, but we love it. We were home for about an hour after lunch with about 20 friends, then it was off to small group!! 

I hope your weekend was a good one! 

Just got back from the lake.....

We had such a great time at Lake Rabun with friends (more to come about that)
and I'm sitting here at my mom's house playing around on her computer while she is fixing my kids pancakes for dinner and Pete and dad are talking "preacher talk"
Anyways......the kids were telling my mom that they are singing at church tomorrow and my mother starts asking if they are singing "Apple Bottom Jeans, Boots with the Fur....." and they are like "no, Mi-mom, we are singing..I've got peace like a river. So funny.......
I better go for now. We have a long day tomorrow at the VL, but I'll post more on Monday.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy Birthday Melissa!!

Tomorrow is Melissa's Birthday, but we celebrated with lunch at her favorite place "The Varsity"  We had yummy greasy food and a fun time with girlfriends!  Melissa is a great friend and also our excellent preschool director at Vinings Lake.  Your children will be well taken care of and learn so much under her leadership!! Happy Birthday Melissa....we love you!  

ps...Pete was not happy that he wasn't invited to the b-day lunch at his favorite "burger joint" as well.

Fan the Flame!!!

Check out Cody's website  here. He and Katie have a wonderful ministry and they are putting together their first conference called "Lit."  

Please click on the link and pray for the conference, register to help or donate lots of $$$ to help reach students for Christ!!!  

Changing diapers.......again!

I really thought we were past this, and yes, I am with my girls....BUT my lovely sister bought Hope and Addie their own "Baby Alive" 

So, this afternoon we have been feeding and changing diapers....thanks Dee.

  

On to the weekend....the men's conf. went over great!  Thanks for your prayers.  A big group went together from VL and I heard great things from the guys on Sunday.  I enjoyed myself with some girlfriends for Sushi and a movie....gotta have a girls night while the men have a whole weekend!!

Pray for our husbands tonight!

Tonight and tomorrow morning is the 16th annual men's conference at FBCW.  Pray for the 8100 men that will be in attendance there and dad as he speaks to the men!