ZSCHOOOM!!

So, that was supposed to be the sound of this week FLYING by! This week has been so crazy. Last weekend we had to cancel our lake plans with the weather predicted to be so terrible. So, Aaron and I packed up the kids and went to Aaron's parents house in Hot Springs Village. We ended up just being able to look at the water, but with it raining all around us, we weren't totally pumped about getting down into it!
The kids had a great weekend with Maw and Da' though! So all in all, it was a fun-filled weekend! Then this week, Sarah Baker and I launched our Arbonne business and have been totally thrilled with the outcome! We're really excited! It did totally take over this week though, Tuesday night was a party @ SB's, Wednesday @ my house and then tonight we had one @ Mom and Dad's ... whew! I am just worn out. I know it will slow down a little now, and they won't all be right in a row like this, but I am plumb worn out- in a good way though. Like, I've accomplished something! I'm not gonna lie, it feels good!
My babies are getting bigger and sillier by the day. I can NOT believe how much Avery is talking (or trying to)! She is constantly jabbering, and trying so hard to tell me something! I just love it. I don't love how she is telling me "no" a lot more. Oh Lordy! But it's really hard to tell her "no" about saying "no", ya know??
Dalton is getting bigger by the DAY. I'm having the HARDEST time thinking he's about to be one. I really really hate it. I just want him to stay a baby FOREVER!
Here are some pics from this weekend, I'm sure something exciting has happened this week, but I'm half dead and have to go to sleep!!!
XOXO


Avery pretty much decided she was ready for bed and undid the sleeper bed herself ... she loves it!! :)


Naptime with Da' ...


Yay for Dora!


I love his face here!


Poker lessons ... you're never too young.


Hi Mama! (and yes that's the world's largest mosquito bite, right square in the middle of his cute forehead ... poor thing)

Avery is 2!!

Avery is so special that she needed two birthdays this year. One on Thursday night and one of Friday night. She loved each equally. Here are some pictures of both. Thank you to Sarah Baker and Lynda for all the pics, because I'm still camera-less and can't imagine not having pics of her big day!
Thursday night our "Davis" family gathered at Mom and Dad's for burgers and cupcakes ... It was so much fun! Avery got new shoes, a back pack (which she's been asking about for weeks now) some money for Target shopping, new cute clothes, and a beautiful vase of roses!


Avery struttin' her stuff in her new backpack and shoes!


Aunt Rah-Rah brought the most wonderful treats evah from Cupcakes on Kavanaugh!


Presents!


We LOVE Big Poppa!


Me and my girl!


Dede let you have a cupcake before dinner ... I think you liked it!


Reading your card from Memaw (which for some reason, she has carried around for two days!)


4 Generations! Avery with her Mommy, Memaw, and Dede!


So sassy!!


The Bubba!!!


Mommy and the Birthday Girl!!



Then Friday night, Aaron's parents came over for more burgers and Dora cake!! They surprised Avery with her very own car and a new Dora purse!! Avery's thrill in life right now is to "Drive." She is always begging to sit in the drivers seat of cars and "dri! I wanna dri!!" So now she can just "dri" all day long!!


Getting in it the first time.


Loving her Dora cake!


Sharing with Bubba


Maw cleaning her up!!


More driving after bath time!


Gotta have her Dora purse ...


Bubba sneaking a turn ...


Uh-Oh! 2 new drivers!!




Dear Avery,
This week you turned two years old. I had envisioned writing this on your birthday, but with all the fun-filled festivities, there was just no time. I never knew that I could love a little bug, like I love you. You light up every day around here and I am so thankful that God gave me such an indescribable gift in you. This year you have started walking and talking. You have a new baby brother that you love so much and you have become quite fond of Dora the Explorer.
I have tried to think of some of my favorite things about you this year ... here are a few:

* When you were about 18 months old, you started this routine of every single day waking up in the morning, and after naptime reaching for your bow holder saying "bow, bow." You would then go get your shoes and bring them to me and beg to go "bye bye." You have always LOVED going "bye bye" and still ask almost every day. But something about bringing me the bow and the shoes was just the cutest thing ever.
* I love that you love to be around people and light up when someone arrives at the house ... even the bug man, haha.
* I love how you want to imitate everything I do. Whether I'm cooking, cleaning, talking on the phone or holding Dalton, you want to be doing the exact same thing. Such a sweet reminder that little eyes are always watching. :)
* I love all your animal noises, especially your "Raaarrr" for the lions and tigers and bears!
* I love how that one of your favorite things is to go feed the dogs with your Daddy. Throughout the day, you'll look out the window and say "feed feed!" You love to put on your John Deere or your little rubber much boots and run around in the yard with Popper and Slick and help daddy. You are such a good helper.

* Your favorite food is fruit. You pick it over sweets every time. However you did just discover popsicles, and they're a pretty close second!!!
* I love how much you love Bubba. You are such a good big sister and are always looking out for him. One of my all-time favorite stories happened at one of our pizza nights at the Sextons. It was the first time you had been around a cat- it scared you to DEATH (You must have inherited that from Da')! You just hated it and cried and cried! It was so unlike you, because you typically love all animals and want to cover them with a blanket and put them night-night. :) We finally put the cat up and all sat down at the kitchen table, except for Bubba who was laying on the living room floor playing with some toys. Dusty decided to go ahead and let the cat out of the laundry room while we were eating. Avery, you came UNGLUED! You saw that the cat was headed for the living room and were screaming "Bubba, Bubba, Bubba!" You did not want that cat to get your Bubba. It was the sweetest, funniest thing I have ever seen.
* You love the lake, the pool and being outside. I am so excited for another summer with you. I know you will just love it.
* I love how you randomly throughout the days are bowing your head and praying. It is by far the most precious thing I've ever seen. I don't even have to be in there, but I will find you in your big pink chair in your room, hands folded, head bowed, eyes closed saying over and over "MamaDadaBubba AMEN, MamaDadaBubba AMEN!" In your sweet way, you are already embracing that you are a child of God, and I know HE is so pleased with you.
* I love how you "baby" everything. You want to rock and "shush" every little thing you can and put them on a little pillow with a blanket. I just love it. The ladies in the church nursery always say how you just "mother" all the other little kids. You pat them on the back if they are upset, pull your chair up next to theirs and say "shh shh shh." I still remember when they told me that when you were about 15 months old. I told them, "well, she's a big sister." Their eyes got big and wide and said, "SHE'S a BIG sister!" You have pretty much ALWAYS been a big sister and I've really ONLY thought of you as a big girl because we found out Dalton was coming when you were only 5 months old. You have always been my sweet helper and I am so so so so proud of you. You are just the most delightful, thoughtful, precious, fun, loving, little girl in the whole wide world and I could not have imagined loving anyone like I love you in my wildest dreams. You are perfect in every way and I can't wait to find out a whole new lists of "favorites" for next year.

Weekend Update

Well people, it has been a fantastic weekend. Let me say that it all started on Thursday with Sarah Baker and I deciding we would join the thousands of women in direct marketing and become Arbonne Consultants. I have all but sworn I would never do this. I never go to the parties for similar companies and really thought that would be SO out of my comfort zone. I knew that people really loved Arbonne products, but really didn't have any interest in having the parties myself. Well, over the last couple months I've been trying to find something I could do from home. I looked seriously at selling a chilren's clothing line from home, but then I realized that you really only do shows a couple times a year. That's when I thought about asking a friend who did Arbonne about her business. It really amazed me the possibilities with the company, if you were willing to work just a few hours a week. As my sister, brother-in-law, husband and I looked into Arbonne we got really interested. We went to a couple meetings, have learned more about the products and are really excited about our new "venture." I am raising my right hand right now to promise this is not going to become an "Arbonne" blog.
So, Friday night we hung out here, Aaron had a softball game, so he did that and then came home and we watched Slumdog Millionaire. I really didn't like it. I think I'm just too maternal, and all those little kids being hurt and not taken care of is really hard to watch. I understand that that is going on, but.... I just hated it. Saturday, SB and I went to our first Arbonne meeting :) and we felt like we learned a lot and got even more pumped up about the potential.
Then Saturday night I picked Caroline up and we went to Hannah Kennedy and Jay O. Howe's wedding. It was really beautiful and we had a great time. I wish I could show you pictures, but my camera is still broken. I absolutely loved high school and all my friends there and it's always so fun to go to events where you get to see everyone together again. A lot of our high school and college friends were there and it was really great. Today I'm about to go pick up the kids from Aaron's parents in Hot Springs. I think we are going to have a little Balboa Beach Fun in the Sun before we come back to Bryant, so I know the kids will love that. Other than that, the sun has FINALLY decided to come out, my lillies are looking fabulous and I'm really excited about a sunny week. It's just gorgeous out there. Hope you are getting to enjoy it too.

Here Comes the Sun!

For some odd reason, I really feel like I don't have anything of merit to tell you people ... seriously!
I will brag on my fabulous hubby for a minute. Yesterday I went to Little Rock for our wild and crazy playgroup. It got really crazy, because we were in the indoor playground and there were a lot more kids that usual. I stayed up in LR at my moms for the rest of the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, with all the stormy, yucky weather, I started craving some Paula Deen comfort food (shocker). I asked Aaron what he was in the mood for and he said steak, mashed potatoes, and fries (why did I even ask???). After talking him into going with only one potato, he offered to go to the grocery store, "um yes, please!!" So I made him a list and that man went to two different stores looking for all my items and then went by Target to get diapers and wipes. THEN he came home and grilled the steaks and fixed dinner! I just about melted. Never has he been as hot as he was walking in with all those grocery sacks in the pouring rain!! Bless him!! OK, I'm done ... but MY how that just made my week!!
Then today I woke up to the sun shining for the first time in goodness knows, how long. Maybe my Lillis might just bloom after all, they were in some serious need of some sunshine! I really want to be out there in it, attempting to tan my pale skin, but I really need to take a shower and mop before my kiddos wake up.
Speaking of my wonderful kids, Avery broke my camera yesterday. That's right, she accidentally knocked it off the counter while the zoom was out. It must have landed right on the lens, when it hit the tile floor and jammed it. It will NOT go back in and the picture is completely blurred. Ugh ... add it to the list.
If I think of my top 5 things I would hate to live without, my camera would definitely make the cut. There aren't even any holidays approaching in which I feel better about getting a new one. Another "ugh" feels necessary... ugh. After a lot of research, I did discover that digital camera prices are ever going down, so that is definitely a plus side. I will just have to get a new one before Memorial Day Weekend at the lake. That is a given. I'm hoping it's not a Kodak wind up one from the Shell station ;)
Well, peeps I think that's all I know. Dalton has done something, not so nice with my little prayer book and when I locate it, we will continue on.
What's For Dinner????
I'm altering Giada's recipe for Roman-Style Chicken tonight ....
here is the link to HER recipe, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roman-style-chicken-recipe/index.html
but I'm altering the ingredients, to what I have in my cupboard, which is pretty close (bacon, instead of prosciutto. Dried herbs instead of fresh, Green peppers instead of red and yellow, and I wouldn't be surprised if I added a little whipping cream and lemon juice- love it!)
...So Roman-Style Chicken over Bowtie Pasta, Salad, and Breadsticks ... I do love my pasta!

Mother's Day Weekend

My little lambies!!



My Bubba!

Friday night we had the best time visiting with my family at my Aunt Tamra's new house in LITTLE ROCK!!!!!!!!

My Aunt Tamra (my mom's sister) has been a missionary with her family ever since I can remember. They have lived all over, but for the last 10 years have been back in the States and have lived in Colorado Springs. She and my Uncle Glen have 5 boys, ages ranging from 7-18. It is so exciting to think we will go from seeing them 1-2 times a year, to all the time. Uncle Glen just joined the Bridge to Rwanda ministry with Fellowship where he will help with all the schools over there. They came here for a long weekend to bring some stuff down into their new house. They won't be here for good, until June.
Saturday morning I left with my parents, Sarah Baker and Ben, and brother, Emerson, to see Rachel graduate. We all packed in the suburban and had a great trip. It was so special to see Rachel graduate from college, I couldn't be more proud of her. I didn't get home until late last night, but Aaron had worked hard on the house because Mother's Day lunch was at our house this year.


We are so proud of Rachel!!


Mom and Dad with Rach


I LOVE my sisters!


Today Aaron's sister brought Ryley down to surprise their mom, from Paragould. She was so thrilled. I'm pretty sure she said about 10 times it was the best mother's day ever. She was so surprised! We had a great lunch and a wonderful time with their family and Aaron got me some beautiful ferns for the front porch- which was exactly what I wanted!
Here are some pics of our beautiful day.



Ashley showing Ryley and Avery the snake book! Ew!!!



"Da" and Dalton



We gave Dalton a little mini cheesecake thing ... is this not THE cutest picture ever??? He obviously liked it alot!! He is so funny!!



Avery didn't last too long, she played herself to sleep.



Me and Bubba ... humidity is not my friend.



Love this picture of Lynda and Dalton



Aunt Mandy and Maci, Aaron and Avery, Ashley and Ryley ... Love them all!!

I hope everyone was blessed with an equally wonderful day, Happy Mother's Day to all my "mommy" friends!

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart ... Where?

Hello, Hello, Hello ...
Today has been quite a silly day. I was up all night with Avery, who was just coughing up a storm and praying for a friend with a sick baby. I finally just got Avery and put her in our bed with us. I know, spare me. I was just wanting to hold my little one. However, I learned my lesson, when at 6am she was saying "Mama, Mama, Please, Dora." I caved, I was so tired and I just let her watch Noggin until 7:30.
Later today, Dalton turned the whole trash can over on himself and oodles of noodles and other yucky things fell on him, so into the bath tub we went. They really thought it was funny to be in the bathtub during the day and were being very silly. We have been working on learning the song, "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart, (Where???)" We clap during the "joy, joy, joy" part. Dalton gets really excited about so I wanted to show him off. Never works. Instead Avery plays Mother Hen and tries to make him do it, then Dalton decided it would be a good idea to scream the whole time. I felt the need to video it for our viewing pleasure .... Enjoy.



What's For Dinner???

Tonight Aaron's mom is coming over and bringing catfish and chicken! My FAVORITE! Yay! So I will be taking the evening off, thank you very much.
Dalton is getting fussy, so I'll add in today's prayer later on.

"Oh, I Love the Rainy Nights..."

It is just raining up a storm over here!
It rained and thundered all night long, and the thunder actually woke me up a couple times. Avery was playing in her room last night and every time it thundered she would come RUNNING out, "Mama, Dada" poor little thing. Other than that I kinda enjoyed the rainy night, and am really enjoying this rainy day. Avery and Dalton both slept in this morning, Dalton woke up at about 9 and Avery didn't wake up until 9:30. I actually slept in until 8! It was great! We are still in our jammies at almost noon, and I don't plan on changing any time soon.
When I turned on the news this morning there were school closings and our country road is blocked off as well, because the creek is running full force over the bridge! I'm under strict instructions to not get out in all this mess today, "yes sir," no problem with that! We're just having a lazy inside day, Dalton just laid down for a nap, and Avery is watching a little Noggin in our bed before she takes her nap in just a minute. Side note: Avery has started doing the funniest thing. Whenever we tell her "no," about something (which obviously rarely happens, ha!) she puts her little head down and pouts and walks off. It's comparable to a dog putting their tail in between their legs. For some reason, we find this terribly funny.
Moving on, I have decided that I want to learn this sew this summer. It is a major goal- not only to master how to do it, but to actually find time. I think I'm going to clear a spot in my closet as a workspace, so tiny hands won't mess up my work. My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress and makes all kinds of things and after my sister came home with some goodies for Avery and Dalton that she had made I am bound and determined to learn how to sew myself.
Speaking of Avery and Dalton, here is my "parent's prayer" for today. I just love this little book because for some reason prayer does not come easily to me. I don't know what it is, but praying, especially aloud, is just awkward for me. (Have I talked about this before??) I find this pretty hard to admit, but I think the more I pray about it and get counsel on it, the easier it seems to be. Now journaling it very easy for me. I've have never been short on words and writing is almost therapeutic for me. But I don't really think that's the point. I think God wants us to pray out loud to Him. Praying scripture out loud is making me more comfortable with this, as well. Right now I'm reading the book of Daniel at night, and I'm really enjoying it. I started Beth Moore's bible study on the book last summer, but after I had Dalton, I had to drop out. I definitely want to try to do it again, because it was really good. It was comparing our culture to the days of Babylong and even though I only got to do about 6 weeks of it, it was just awesome, Anyway, here is a great prayer for our little ones ... for me this is one of the hardest prayers to pray.

Releasing My Child into God's Hands

Lord, I come to You in Jesus' name and give (your child's name) to You.

I'm convinced that You alone know what is best for him (her).

You alone know what he (she) needs. I release him (her) to You to care for

and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him (her)

that I can think of or that You put upon my heart.

Teach me how to pray and guide me in what do pray about. Help me not

to impose my own will when I'm praying for him (her), but rather enable

me to pray that Your will be done in his (her) life. Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him (her) and that I don't have to do it alone.

"The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's

children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who

remember His commandments to do them."

Psalm 103:17-18

I just feel like I can trust God with just about every area of my life, but if something happened to my babies, I might just lose it. It's kinda my "I've got this," area. Even though without Him, I doubt I would be able to love them the way I do or understand in a deeper way His love for me. A couple weeks ago at Community Group we watched the crucifixion scene from the Passion and it was really heavy, heavier than I had remembered. I know I haven't ever watched since I have had children myself. I just kept thinking that's His perfect Son, His Dalton. But He had never sinned, only been a perfect lamb. Why would he love me so much to do that? Definitely gave me a spiritual buzz that I needed to step up to the plate to live for Him more. I can't imagine living this life thinking, this was it, how absolutely hopeless. Thank JESUS we have something so much better to look forward to. My sister-in-law said something funny the other day about how she wondered if Heaven was going to be like a neighborhood with all your favorite people as neighbors. For some reason I thought that was really cute and just thinking of all the "what if's" of heaven is so exciting to me. I think I'm going to put this video on here that is possibly one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time. It's wonderful, it's a young girl who paints and tells of what she thinks heaven is about ... Please watch.

align="left">I really don't have a segway from Salvation to Supper ... so I'm just going to fly into it .... here it is peeps,

What's for Dinner?????

Tonight I'm making one of Aaron's "Family Favorites," It's not anything special, but yummy! Anyway this was Aaron's grandfather, Pa Blue's favorite way to have burgers and it's pretty good. Pa Blue's burgers are burger pattys that you make up and then put a couple sliced onion rings and a little green pepper and a pat of butter on and then wrap up in aluminum foil and bake. They're pretty good and you lose the extra carbs of the bun. (This is my attempt at cooking low fat). I'm going to cook some baked beans and corn on the cob too ... maybe something else, we'll see. Well, there ya go!

Looks like the sun is actually coming out and it just might be a pretty day, after all! I guess I might have to get out of my jammies now!

A Walk on the Wild Side ...

Today our little playgroup took a walk on the wild side, to the Little Rock Zoo. I can't even think of the last time I've been to the zoo, and the wee ones have never been so I was really excited. Aaron was disappointed to not be there for there first trip to the zoo, but I know we'll be back soon because it was such a fun day! It was pretty cloudy so it wasn't too hot and overall a perfect day for the zoo. (Besides the fact that it was PACKED with school field trips ... :(
Here are some pics!


First stop, the snakes ... Avery and I had the same idea about being in that cave with all the huge snakes ... EEK!!!!


Amber with baby Cruz, and Morgan with baby Annette


Sweet Noah!


Miss Ada


My own little wild animals ...


"Ooh-La-La"


I think this was the highlight! The Grizzly Bears came right up to the glass! We have been watching a special with Aaron, on Grizzlys, all week!


"Umm ... Mama..."


And to top it all off, Avery got some lovin' from Noah!

Today's exerpt from "The Power of a Praying Parent," is the number one thing I pray over my kids every day. That my kids will see Jesus in me, and that I will be the exactly the Mommy that they need, to be the followers Jesus wants them to be.

Becoming a Praying Parent

Lord, may the beauty of Your Spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model

for my child. Give me the communication, teaching, and nurturing skills that I must

have. Grow me into being the kind of parent You want me to be and teach me how to

pray and truly intercede for his (her) life. You said in Your Word, "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)

In Jesus' name I ask that You will increase my faith to believe for all the things You have put on my heart to pray for concerning this child.

"Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father

may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

John 14:13-14

Well, we have definitely had a big day around here and I think it's going to rain all night, which will make staying home tonight even better. It's Tuesday which means, AMERICAN IDOL!! Woo Hoo! I can't wait to see what they all sing tonight, it might be the week where they start singing two songs! Cool Beans. I will definitely be voting as fast as my fingers can type for Kris Allen! And since Aaron's fav, Matt G, got voted off last week I'm hoping to pull him over to join voting force.

What's for Dinner???????

Well, let me tell you: Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs, French Bread, and Caesar Salad. It's one of my favorites for some reason. Aaron's dad makes everything from scratch in a yummy, family recipe, but I'm going to definitely rely on some products from our new grocery store, thanks Harps. ;)

I pretty much love any kind of pasta, but on a rainy, yucky night like tonight, Spaghetti and Meatballs sounds great. I better go get started.

Love, Rebekah

This and That

My kids really had a milestone kind of week. Avery has really started saying all kinds of things. Last night she came in the living room with her blue ball saying "My Blue Ball!" It was so cute! What is NOT cute is her new climbing ability. She opens up the lazy susan, which I can't seem to find a child lock for and climbs up on to the counter... AGH! But she is also dressing herself and putting her own shoes on ... so that helps! :) On the not so much bright side, more like the brown side, I have changed more horrible diapers in the last 4-5 days than I can ever remember. A nasty stomach virus has weasled its way into the Boone house and let me just say, it's not pretty. Ew.
Dalton is getting better and better at walking. We practice every night and he walks in between Aaron and me. The only problem is that if you are the one he is walking TO, you are in danger. He just gets so excited that when he gets there he starts laughing and screaming and BITING! It hurts so bad! Then when you tell him "no," he rears his head back and screams more. It's truly terrifying.
With that said ... Here is my prayer for today for my little yay-hoots.

Becoming a Praying Parent

Lord, I submit myself to You. I realize that parenting a child in the way You

would have me to is beyond my human abilities. I know I need You

to help me. I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom,

discernment, revelation, and guidance. I also need Your strength and patience,

along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.

Teach me how to love the way You love. Where I need to be healed, delivered,

changed, matured, or made whole, I invite You to do that in me. Help me to

walk in righteousness and integrity before You.

Teach me your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments and only do

what is pleasing in Your sight.

"The righteous man walks in His integrity; his children are blessed after him." Prov. 20:7

I just think those are so good and such an easy way to pray for our children. Sometimes it's hard to know what to pray over my wee ones. MeLeah also gave us a calendar this year and on every day of the month it has a different thing to pray over your child: integrity, discernment, patience, kindness ... it's a great tool.

OK, People it's time for dun dun ta dun ....

WHAT'S FOR DINNER??

Tonight I'm going to make grilled pork chops, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese.

I'm not gonna lie, I have a lot of Paula Deen in me, and not so much of ... I don't even know the names of any "health food" cooks. I'm not good at that. I try to make balanced meals as far as a meat, a starch, and a veggie ... but I also really love butter and heavy whipping cream. I'm sure you can see my dilemma. I'm going to pray for a high metabolism for my kiddos and get them to drink more water. Plus my kids eat fruit all the livelong day.... I have no idea why I'm feeling the need to defend myself all of the sudden. Good gracious I've got some security issues. I better go.

Love, Rebekah

A Happy Day.

The last couple days have been pretty heavy around here. I am just so broken-hearted for my friend, Morgan. Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. was the visitation for her mom at their church in Sheridan. I have seriously never seen anything like it. There were people wrapped around the church in line to hug her family and pay their respects. We got there right at 6 and waited for over an hour ... Can you believe that? That is such a testimony to their family and how loved their mom was. When we left, at about 7:45 the line was even longer than when we had gotten into it, so I can't imagine how long Morgan and her family stayed up there. I can only imagine how exhausted they must have been.
Yesterday afternoon was the Memorial Service and it was truly beautiful. Morgan gave a tribute to her mom and she did such an amazing job. I know that God gives grace to those who are mourning and carries them, but she is just so strong. She said from the start that she wasn't going to cry, that she would just smile instead. She said that "today is a happy day for us." She gave tributes from all of Mrs. Carol's siblings with touching sentiments and funny tidbits like, "She thought every recipe could be improved by adding rotel." (My kind of lady!)
She told a little bit of her mom's history, how her parents met, fun stories about her childhood. She just did such a great job. She also gave a "cry" from their family, saying that people keep commenting on how strong their family is, and it's because they know where she is. She went on to say that they knew that many people had been touched by their faith and had come to Christ and if they were giving their mom to the Lord for them to come to Christ, she really hoped they would make that extra step and follow Him. It was very moving. Morgan's posts on the caringbridge were such a ministry. She had a message and I think it reached a lot of people. There have been over 30,000 hits to that site in only one month. One of the best challenges she gave was when she continually said, "I hope we are all listening to God during this time, and not just talking to Him." That is so good. It's so easy to just talk and talk and tell Him what we need, but it's so much more important to meet with Him and listen for what He has to tell you. And I don't think He tries to talk over us
She read this verse at the end too, which I just think is SO powerful. It was the last verse she wrote on the caringbridge website, the night Mrs. Carol died. I'm going to work on memorizing it.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."" Revelation 21:3-5

I think the thing that was the most touching, to me, was how she ended it. She said she had struggled to find how to close and all she could think of was the Little Mermaid and how many times she had watched all three of the movies. She said there was a part at the end of the first movie where Sebastion and King Tritan were sitting on that rock watching Ariel go off with the Prince and Sebastion said, "There, just one problem," and he asked what it was and he replied, "How much I'm going to miss her." And she said that was what was going to be hard, how much she was going to miss her. :(
I boo-hoo'ed.
I'm attaching her obituary, in case you would like to see it. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers.

Love, Rebekah

http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=240596&fh_id=10392&s_id=10A61F6369C1BD87952B0AF3E695B3A2