"I want to write it across the sky, and carve it in every tree."

Today marks the one year anniversary of our wedding. It's so hard to believe that is has only been one year. It feels like we have been together our whole lives. I think that's how it feels when you have met and fallen in love with your soul mate. I was so nervous the day of our wedding. I remember how I felt when I walked down the stairs and saw my two Dad's waiting for me at the foot of the steps. I was overwhelmed with joy and pride. I could hear the song Ave Maria playing as the best friends and most important women in my life were walking down to take their places along side my love. And then our song started to play. I literally took FOREVER picking out our wedding play list. I wanted songs that were beautiful and ones that captured what I was feeling. I could feel my heart beating so hard in my chest when the doors opened and I saw the aisle before me. I thought 'Wow! This is it! This is the moment I have waited for my whole life' and then I thought 'hey Dads, you guys are walking too fast!' so I pulled them back a little and slowed the pace....I wasn't trying to rush through this! I remember thinking that Joe looked soooo handsome standing up there. I couldn't believe that this man was my future! Immediately after I was given away, and took Joe's hand, everyone else in the room faded away. All I could see was him. I must admit, at one point I was wondering if he thought I looked like a beautiful bride. Then when it was time to say our vows I felt so happy that God was there to hear our pledges to each other. I love this man with all my heart and soul. I love him for everything that he is. I love him for his amazing mind. He is truly brilliant! I love him for his amazing capacity for any and all information. Don't EVER challenge this one to a game of Trivial Pursuit....he'll whoop up on you! I love that he has such a strong will and he has more inner strength than any human soul could ever contain. He amazes me every day. He will do anything for our family. He is a perfection seeker and I feel so blessed that I am his wife. The Lord has so many wonderful plans for him and for our family. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. I know that there is no obstacle too big for us. We are strong in love, we are strong in the Lord, and we are strong in each other. I attached a video my uncle made for us from the wedding. It was such a special gift because it is the only video we have of that beautiful day. Enjoy!

The Wizard of Oz

Trae had his 1st grade play last Thursday. They had to involve all of the students, so they divided the parts by scene. Trae was the Lion in scene 7. He did an AWESOME job!! He was so excited about the play that every day he would ask me how many more days until the show. He also told me EVERY day "Mom, you better get to sewin'!"

Trae's teacher Miss. Walker

These are two of Trae's friends...Ayara and T.J. He thinks T.J. is the prettiest girl in his class! She also happens to be the most advanced. She could already read chapter books at the begining of the year!

I love the men in my life!

My little piece of Heaven

Like most families, we rely on our evening routine in order to preserve sanity and order in our home. So most nights go as follows; 6:00-dinner , 7:00-family free time (we play a board game or draw, anything as long as it's as a family ), 8:00- Trae's bath time, 8:30- story time, 9:00 brush teeth, tuck in, family prayer, lights out. We have this routine pretty well established now, and is followed most of the time, except on Tuesdays when we go to our Life Group bible study, and Friday's which is a free night, and Trae and Joe's 'Man's night' (I'll explain that in another post!). Anyway, Sunday turned out to be a pretty awesome day. We went to church and then had lunch at BWW so Daddy could watch the Celtics. Evelynn had other plans though, so we ate quickly and took the tired and fussy little lady home. It was a relaxing day. After nap time, Evelynn and I sat outside on the lawn chair and watched Joe and Trae play Monkey in the Middle with his new Nerf ball and some of the neighborhood kids. Guess who was the monkey? JOE! Sometimes I think he has more fun playing than they do!

Joe putting Evelynn to sleep and watching Sports Center....She was so tired

Hee Hee....they are so comfy together! She has him so wrapped around her pinkie already

So that night when Trae was saying his prayers, he said...'thank you God for my strength, thank you for my life, and thank you for the holy spirit." After he was done Joe and I just looked at each other and smiled. We are so proud of the little man he has become!

1st Grade Valentine's Dance

This year has been full of changes and new things for our Trae. He has adjusted very well and has grown into a fine young boy. We have had some challenges with a few bullies at school this year. Trae is learning how to stand up for himself and has a very good grasp on what is right and wrong. He always tries to make good decisions. We learn a lot from him daily! This year the first grade is doing The Wizard of Oz for their school play and Trae wants to be the Lion. We really hope he gets it! It would be really good for him. So, please pray that Trae will get the part in the play that will be best for his self esteem. We hope it's the Lion, but God might have other plans.

The sermon at church was really good too. It was about the rapture and the end of days. It wasn't the average 'Rapture' sermon though. He wasn't trying to scare anyone into accepting the Lord. He simply relayed a message from the bible. That message was that now is the time to get right with God. We should do all things as if we were doing them for Jesus. We should prepare every day for his return. How can we do this? Well, my interpretation is this: Clean house. We take so much time and care to make sure our house is clean and tidy. We buy nice clothes and fix our hair so we can present ourselves to others in a certain way. Our lawns are kept and our flower beds are tended, which some do for leisure, but most do in order to please those beasts from the HOA. We make sure our children are in all the right sports or join all the right after school clubs. But what have you done for your soul lately? All of the 'things' of this world will not mean a thing on the day that the Lord returns. So what is there? When you sit alone in a quiet place, and look inside yourself, at the parts of your heart that no one can see but you, what do you see? Is there bitterness, regret, anger, vengeance, or hate. Maybe there buried deep is shame, lust, greed, or confusion. Envy, frustration, pride.... Or maybe you see peace and love and devotion. My point is this: Whatever it is that remains when all of the outside world is stripped away in those deep hidden places of yourself, are not a secret. GOD sees them. And he doesn't just glance in from time to time. He doesn't just pop by on Sunday mornings to see if you went to church or not. He sees what's in our hearts ALL of the time on a big screen in HD. 'For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.' 1John 3: 20. All of the stuff, and things that take up space in our every day lives are secondary and are displayed in the far corner 'Picture in picture'. So prepare your heart for the Lord. 1John 2: 17 says that 'The world and it's desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.' Read the scriptures and make them a part of your heart. If you already know a lot of scripture, then go and search for new ones. You can NEVER stop learning. It is also our responsibility as parents to make sure that our children are taught about God's love by example. Children see EVERYTHING we do. They are watching and soaking everything in. How do you treat strangers? How do you treat the checker at Wal-mart? Do you even acknowledge their existence besides the sigh of frustration when they have to enter a bar code manually, or need to call for assistance? This is how I have come to view my roll in this world lately. I may not be someone who has a public platform on which to stand and influence people. I do not have the means to be a missionary in Ethiopia, or the gift to lead a congregation. But what I do have is the opportunity to be a positive influence on the people I come in contact with on a daily basis. Look someone in the eyes and smile. Tell someone to have a good day and really mean it. Pray that God will place joy in your heart and consciously do all things with that joy.

Well, this blog post did not go the way I had originally intended. Hmph, that just goes to show that the Lord's schedule can be much different than our own. I hope everyone can find out what that is and then try every day to live it. Love you!

-Amber

So, this is our fam on Easter Sunday including our newest member; Bosco. He is a lab boxer mix and he joined our family on April 11th. He is super sweet and loves to cuddle!