An Allen Wedding

Yes, two posts in one day...I have been asked for wedding pictures by 3 family members so far...so I figured I would catch myself up in one rainy afternoon.

We had a great weekend in Hattiesburg this past weekend celebrating Eric's brother's wedding. The weather turned out nice and the whole weekend was so very special! We are excited to have Caroline as a new member to our family...I don't think I have ever seen Tanner so happy....what a sweet, sweet weekend!

Sydney was flower girl, Cade was ring bearer, and Eric was a best man. I think this is my favorite picture...And, a family photo...S had a meltdown about her halo being placed on her head...it took a while to calm her fiesty self down...I am so thankful we got a picture of the four of us with a smile on her face!!We had the run through of the ceremony right before the wedding began. This was C and S practicing their walking out...During the ceremony, I was so proud of these two...they did exactly as they were asked - I was having a prayer vigil in my seat! These two pictures were taken during the prayer...when C laid his head on his pillow, I had to grab my camera. I promise I was listening to the prayer...but, after our rocky start with my daughter, I felt I had to keep an eye on the little diva...but, what I saw in both of them - whoo, this mama was a happy mama!
C and S with the happy, beautiful couple!!Tell me that this little girl is not a daddy's girl...she gave him so many kisses that day and danced the night away with him.
One more family pic...right before the ceremony began...And, at the end of the wonderful day, we had some sleepy heads...

Rewind...spring break

I finally downloaded my March pictures and thought I would share...I just love all the fun that Spring brings...
Daddy took off work on Monday of Spring Break so we had a fun day of bowling, visiting Best Buy, and letting the guys do laser tag. Days when our daddy stays home are always favorites! I was still pretty yukky feeling but had a great time hanging out with my family....
They both did pretty well bowling - what a fun activity!The Anticipation...And, The Celebration!The kiddos and I had a great time in MS visiting family - C and S really enjoyed playing on Uncle Bill's boat. He even took my niece and C fishing one afternoon - my little guy had a ball!!my little flower pickerOur family picnic at Ballard Park - a very popular idea for a pretty, warm day!We went to Tupelo's new children's health museum with one of my best friends from high school and her children....C told me he was a worm in this apple....All four of these guys enjoyed the light up dance floor.And, we left our "mark" on Gran and Pop's carport...just something to remember our fun week in MS!

a bug, a baby, a blessing, & a prayer

A few family moments before I head to bed...

C has been catching ladybugs lately. Wanted to keep one in the truck the other day so he could play with it later...reminded him that they do move...hee hee. But, C protested that the ladybug was tired, that it wasn't moving. Of course, I am thinking "great, that poor bug, scared silly of this giant 5 year old holding it." Anyway, as C and I were discussing the bug and whether or not to keep him in the car, S piped up that she wanted to see that "lazy bug" too. We laughed and laughed. Lazy bug, ladybug, lazy ladybug...it worked...perceptive of her, we thought. Ladybugs might never be called ladybugs again around here. "Lazy bugs" is such a cute nickname!

To share our good news: We are expecting number 3 to the Allen household in late October. We are very excited...especially that I am feeling a little better...whoo, sorry for the lack of blogs...I have been a little green and very much tired. But, I am on the mend here in the end of the first trimester. Anyway, the kids and I were talking yesterday in the car about naming the baby. We would need to be thinking and talking to agree on a name. Well, S is convinced she will have a sister and wants her name to be Lucy. C also wants a sister so he can have two girls to boss, he says (hmmmm....looks like we need a talk on that subject). Anyway, he has affectionately called the baby, Squirt. Seriously. He calls the kid, Squirt, and thinks it is the coolest name ever. Oh, life with a five year old boy....he even asked me tonight if he could be called Squirt too, that it would be ok to have two in our family...hmmmm....

S asked C to play with her yesterday. He said he would and then even shared his chair and toy with her. They talked and talked and giggled and giggled. I then overheard S tell him, "C, that just blesses my heart.." Oh, mine too, S, mine too!!

Tonight, E was doing the nightly ritual of making up stories and then praying with S. She then asked him to do the "God Story." He was a little puzzled - which Bible story was she wanting recited? She even was doing her little hands like a Bible opening. He asked her to tell him more so he would know which one...she started a few lines of the Lord's Prayer. So, he figured out that our two year old has renamed the Lord's Prayer the God Story....pretty good name...appropriate. I have to tell you...hearing my husband praying with my children are some of my favorite moments of my day...

I promise pictures of Spring Break soon...sleep first...

Lovin' Spring!!

We are in MS at my parent's house this week....enjoying some beautiful Spring days with family. I'll post some pictures from our week when I return home tomorrow.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the Springtime. I love the cool mornings and warm afternoons. I am amazed at all of God's creation budding and becoming green. The feeling that all things are new, are awakening, are alive. Since becoming a mom, I have seen the energy level in my children spike around March each year. They too sense the excitement of longer days, playing outside, shedding their big coats and sweaters....

Sitting outside on a nice Spring day is a God-given opportunity to look around at the beauty that God has created...but also our chance to take a look inside of ourselves to see what needs to be pruned and where growth needs to appear. The selfishness, the unkind words, the lack of discipline, the materialism...attitudes that can be like pesky weeds needing to be plucked...personal "weeds" that need to be removed before the "flowers" of the spirit are harmed, overcrowded. I have thought so much about what in my life has my spirit wilting. Are my bad attitudes getting more fertilizer than my God-given gifts? Do I spend more time cultivating my worldly self or the person God wants me to be?

I know...leave it to me to over-analyze gardening and my spiritual walk while enjoying a nice play day...but, God uses all types of reminders to bring me a little closer, to grow me a little more into the creation he wants me to be...
We have to be planted (in church, with good friends to hold us up), we have to be watered (by the life-giving water of the One who created us), we have to be fertilized (by Bible study and prayer time), we have to prune out the weeds (all those things that keep us from growing straight and beautiful), and we have to be the kind of bloom that we were created to be (a rose is a rose, not a daisy - we all have talents, skills, personalities that are from Him to be used to glorify Him). Now, to grow where I am planted....I pray the water from my Lord washes away the dirt of my life and that I am drenched in His word and time with Him so that I can be the creation my Creator created...not letting my weeds grow so big and strong to overtake me....

my life on pause

I have spent a good bit of time this past week on the couch not feeling well. I really do not like not feeling well - who does? Although, sometimes in the middle of life's busyness, I occasionally think on what getting in bed in the afternoon would feel like. Then, as quickly as I daydream about it, I hear a familiar sound..."mom, could you..." I honestly have to admit that sometimes I wish I had a Pause button on My Life remote. I could pause all the action going on around me - the bottoms that need to be wiped, the towels that need to be washed, the meals to be prepared, the lessons that need to be taught...even the games to be played, books to be read. Sometimes, it is all a little daunting. I find myself wondering where time went when I have been folding my 6th load of play clothes. There has to be a balance between the work to be done around the house, the service to be given to others, time to take care of myself, and time to be shared with my family...I honestly struggle with the balance of all of it. And, so, my pause button would stop it all...just long enough for a nap, for a little refocusing on the priorities, for a little extra time with my Maker.

I understand I am aimlessly unloading here...please forgive me. I think my blog has become a little more than a sharing of the kids' days with out-of-state family and friends. It is amazingly therapeutic to share....until I go back and read this later...hee hee.

Anyway, my pause button - I have daydreamed about it. But, this week...as I lay around feeling icky....I absolutely had a love/hate relationship with being out of commission. I loved listening to my children play, talk, laugh...they are becoming such little buddies...it blesses my heart. I loved watching their compassion...they would check on their dad and me, they would pray for us, for our healing. Sitting back to listen in on their lives, I was truly blessed. My children are growing, are learning, are enjoying their lives....for that I am sooo grateful. I am thankful for the reminder of how each day with them is so special, so precious. The part of "sidelining it" this week that I did not like was feeling totally out of it. I wanted this rest. I got it. And, I am not the Mary I wish I was....this Martha has had a hard time letting others do all the doing. I haven't cooked all week - so I had worries about my family's nutrition. I haven't cleaned my house - and feel so bad my poor mom had to come to AL to do it for me. Am I the only one who cannot stand to have things done for me? I am so prideful. In my sad little way of thinking, I am the only one who can do these things for my family in the right manner. Well, the Lord used this week to show me my pride, my arrogance. He also showed me once again how precious my husband is....now, after recovering from his stomach virus, he is bathing his kids, fixing their dinner, putting away clothes...He is wonderful! I do not give him enough credit in this home. He makes this house "work" as much as I do...He is an incredible dad and partner. Do I tell him that? Do I show him how much I appreciate him, respect him? Hmmm....my answer saddens me....

So, maybe a week on "pause" was what I needed...to allow the Lord to open my eyes to the precious craziness with two small children...to see the amazing heart of my husband...to feel the endearing care of my loyal mother...to sense God's hand in our circumstances...to close my eyes, rest, and breathe in this wonderful blessing of the life that I have been given...

Let it Snow!

We have had a busy couple of weeks....Cade's school trip to the Golden Flake factory, a missions conference at our church, a snow, an ear infection for my little one, a stomach bug for my honey, a visit from Gran....life at the Allens' has been pretty eventful the last week and a half...

I was able to grab a few photos of the snow that God blessed Alabama with on Sunday...we enjoyed the fun and beauty it brought with it. I haven't seen many snows in my life being raised in MS...but, from what I have seen, snow is such a reminder of God's power, his artful touch on our world. I am so amazed at His creativity and plans for us...and so excited we were able to take a moment out of the chaos of life to enjoy His creation...

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