Aubrey turned 6 years old today...

This is not a recent photo of her (birthday party pictures to be posted after the 15 children descend on our house and party down like rock stars) but it is one of my all time favorite snapshots of her. I can hardly believe the baby in the family is 6 years old today. It seems like only yesterday that she came into this world in the middle of the night (2:22 a.m. to be precise). She came into this world with big blue eyes, and a very quiet demeanor from the get go! She certainly completed our family. A few "fun facts" about our girl you may not know: her full name is Aubrey Jennifer. We named her after our good friend Jen (for those of you who did not know this Tim and I would not be "Tim and I" if it were not for Jen introducing us and playing match maker - so we owe a lot to her)!! I still remember Jen calling me in the hospital and what a true joy it was to ask Jen's blessing to use her name as Aubey's middle name - we were both crying by the time it was all said and done. It is a true honor to have a child named after such an amazing strong woman and it is our sincere hope that Aubrey grows up to emulate many of the qualities that are in her namesake!! Aubrey has had a milestone year as she completed kindergarten. She started out the year very shy and nervous about me dropping her off at school (daily). She finished the year out so strong and confident - we are so proud of all she has accomplished this year. A fond memory for me this year is every day before school she would have me draw a "kissing hand" (a heart) on her hand and kiss it, and she would do the same for me. Towards the end of the year, as we were getting out of the car I said "Oh we almost forgot your kissing hand." Keep in mind we had done one for 125+ days and she replied, "That's ok mom. I think I am too big for kissing hands anymore." Sigh.... and so it begins... Happy Birthday Aubrey - I love you bunches, bunches!!

There will be a day...

I seem to be posting a lot of song lyrics lately. All day today I have had this song resounding in my heart by Jeremy Camp it goes like this:

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step

Where you’ve walked out all alone
Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we`ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we`ll hold on to you always

It is such a great song, and I take hope in it for those of us still here living on this fallen earth where we are not promised that life won't be full of tears, pain, and sickness. While there is much joy in this world, it is a great reminder that we are just passing through and THERE will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more. I also take great comfort in knowing THAT DAY came for my amazing friend Jen a year ago today - He has wiped away her tears and her pain!!

Fight Like a Girl

I am back into the land of blogging and have much to catch up on! I gave my final exam on Thursday and feel like I am slowly getting my life back after my first teaching gig in 8 years ended. I thought it fitting in honor of Memorial Weekend to post these lyrics of a song sent to me from Jen's sister - it is the song by a group Bomshel called Fight Like a Girl. I tried to download it from Youtube but I am not that savvy so if you want to hear it you can find the song on YouTube. I love the lyrics, and I know Jen would have loved them too. I also love that the final verse was written for her!! I think it is pretty amazing what a legacy she has left behind. I was told by here sister they call this song "Jenny's Song" in Nashville and it is climbing the music charts at #35! Pretty cool. I hope you enjoy the lyrics and go out and listen to the song even if you are not that into country. An update Sara provided a quick link for me all you have to do is go to the comment section, find her comment, and then you can hear this great song courtesy of YouTube!!! Thanks Sara -you my friend are so SAVVY!!!

Little girl alone on the playground
Tired of gettin' teased and gettin' pushed around
Wishin' she was invisible
To them

She ran home cryin'
"Why do they hate me?"
And Mama wiped the tears and said
"Baby, you're brave and you're beautiful.
So, hold your head high.
Don't ever let 'em define
The light in your eyes.
Love yourself, give them Hell.
You can take on this world.
You just stand and be strong
And then fight
Like a girl."

At 31 she was wheelin' and dealin'
Kept on hittin' that same glass ceilin'
She was never gonna one of the boys, no
She coulda gave up on her ambition
And spent the rest of her life just wishin'
Instead she listened to her mama's voice sayin'

"Hold your head high.
Don't ever let 'em define
The light in your eyes.
Love yourself, give them Hell.
You can take on this world.
You just stand and be strong
And then fight
Like a girl."

Oh, with style and grace
Kick ass and take names

Ten years of climbin' that ladder
Oh, but money and power don't matter
When the doctor said "the cancer spread"
She holds on tight to her husband and babies
And says "this is just another test God gave me.
And I know just how to handle this"

I'll hold my head high
I'll never let this define
The light in my eyes
Love myself, give it Hell
I'll take on this world
If I stand and be strong
No, I'll never give up
I will conquer with love
And I'll fight like
Like a girl

Introducing the Three Piggie Opera!!!

On-stage: My A. is the second row up, and 4 from the right (picture below). I laugh outloud every time I look at these pictures and their masks!! I also love how I caught so many of the boys turning around acting more like monkies than little piggies. It was quite an event. If you ever need something to brighten your day - attend an elementary school play and it will just about put everything in life right back into perspective.

Anxious kindergarteners awaiting their curtain call!!

A very cute pig I must say she does make...

A. had her first official elementary school production today - it was an opera - The Three Piggie Opera! It was so cute, and I have to admit I got a little misty-eyed watching my baby on stage "oinking" her little heart out.

Time to "pig" out!!

In celebration for all their hard work, one mom (who owns a bakery I will add) made these amazing PIG cupcakes. The kindergarteners LOVED them, and I have to admit I was salivating over that delicious-oh-so-sweet-looking-piled-on very thick frosting?

Daddy Daughter Dance

It is hard to believe that this is T. and T.'s third daddy daughter dance! Where does the time go?? A. was soooo excited that she is finally old enough to attend the annual school dance with her sister and daddy. The theme of the dance this year was Yee-Haw to Spring and it may be hard to tell in these picture but they all have shirts with a western flare! We don't - believe it or not - have a lot of cowboy dress in our house. T. is wearing a very country shirt with the oh so great "snap" buttons and it even has a snake on the side of it.
Don't let me forget to mention that the hat T. is sporting has all kinds of John Deere logos on it - you can't get much more country than that.
This is me trying my best to look sad about being the only one left at home... I was bummed not to go. Now let me explain the Biology book... I had a date with a biology book this night because I am OFFICIALLY employed again. I just landed my first teaching job since I took a leave to have T. almost 8 years ago. I am going back into the classroom as a high school Biology teacher. I will be teaching night school two nights a week for the next 9 weeks. It is a pretty exciting job for me because I can still have my days to be home with the girls and work in their classes. It will be A TON of work as I have found out rather quickly how much I have forgotten from my U of I days as a Biology major (it was a little depressing and a lot humbling). That said, my blog posting days may come to a halt for a little while as I attempt to juggle teaching, "momming," track coaching, and the girls' soccer schedules!! Wish me luck...

The one thing I love about Valentine's Day

I am not one to really like V-day, but I have to give a little shout out to what I do love about it with my wallpaper this month. I love the heart candy that my husband says taste like chalk. I can't help myself, but I love them. I think I have even passed on this love to my girls as they can't pass the store displays without begging for a box of those sinfully sweet little morsels. I, of course, always cave. So Happy Candy Heart Day!