ACU Homecoming

Last weekend we headed to Abilene. It has been over 10 years since I've been back to ACU and felt it was time to make the trek and show my sweet girls the place where I have so many fond memories.

We started out at the carnival they put on every year, meeting up with friends, riding horses, and getting their faces painted. Ashlyn got hers as a puppy. Isn't it cute? Laney had a unicorn painted on her cheek but it's hard to tell in the picture. We stayed the first night at a hotel.

The next morning we went to the Homecoming parade. The girls got a ton of candy, I ran into a few people I haven't seen since graduating, and we met up with some of our favorite Wildcats right now. We have had a lot of students from Bent Tree graduate and go onto ACU. It's so great! We saw a couple of them in the parade because they are pledging and we had Annie and Jessica meet up with us. It was good to see them!

Here are Jess (holding Reese) and Annie (with Ashlyn and Laney).

Maybe I'll have at least one of them become an ACU Wildcat in the future :). Aren't they just so sweet?

I really love this family pic. I'm not

sure what Reese had in her mouth at the time

but it was a beautiful day and I simply love

having down time with my family. This year

we have been more intentional in taking some

family breaks and getting away together. I've

really enjoyed it and hope we make it a habit.

This is part of a memorial area right by a

statue on camus of Jacob's ladder. You have to

stand on a stone that says "one thing" from a

passage of Scripture in order to see this cross.

It is a beautiful area and a wonderful reminder

that the "one thing" most important is Christ.

Saturday we headed over to my friend and old roomate Karen's home. We relaxed, laughed, talked, and talked some more...until 1:30 in the morning. All 6 of our girls are weeks or months apart so we always have a great time together.

Saturday night Jason stayed home with the 2 little ones, Reese and Haven. Houston was out of town...missed you! Then Karen and I took the 4 big girls to the Homecoming Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. I think they felt so big and grown-up.




Here are Ashlyn, Matalee, Laney and Emery before the musical.

All 6 girlies. Karen called me a couple months ago letting me know that they were surprised and expecting another little one. We've been pregnant at the same time with all of our girls and she keeps trying to talk me into doing it with her one more time... I've got baby fever bad, but I'm not sure we can join in on this one :).

My sweet friend, Karen. Love you and love your friendship. Thanks for letting us crash at your lovely home.

(I'm having spacing issues once again that I can't figure out. Sorry about that.)

Alive in Christ

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin." Rom. 4:7-8

The above Scripture is what Ashlyn chose on her own to have read at her baptism. I told her we needed to find a Scripture that was special to her and passed her her bright pink Bible. I turned around to do something real quick in the kitchen and figured I would come back and help her begin in Psalms to find something that stood out to her as special. Within 1 minute she called to me and said that she really liked this verse in Romans. Romans isn't the easiest book to understand but as I read the verses my heart was filled with joy. What a perfect verse to describe the priceless gift of eternal life we are given when we accept Christ as our Savior. There isn't a thing any of us can do to deserve this lavish love and gift. Yet, he makes His gift available to anyone who wants it.

Our Ashlyn Jean is young. However, God has revealed Himself to her in a very real way. She actually accepted Christ as her Savior over two years ago now. She was full of questions and we would talk about how Jesus made a way for us to have a relationship with God the Creator. How out of love for us, He chose to come and die on the cross in order to wipe our sins away, and rose again 3 days later so that we can be made alive in Christ! She got it. We had the discussion many times over and I never suggested that she pray to accept Christ. I just presented her the Truth and the Lord gave her a childlike faith to trust in Him. She asked me if she could pray and so I helped her along.

She has asked quite a few times over the last few months when she could get baptized. We wanted to make sure she understood what it meant first and on Sunday night, October 4th she took the plunge (literally). We don't believe baptism is a necessity to salvation but rather an obedient step to show the world afterwards that you have chosen Jesus and aren't ashamed. I heard an analogy once that baptism is to salvation, like a wedding ring is to marriage. Wearing a wedding ring doesn't make you married, but it does show those around you that you belong to someone. In the same way, baptism doesn't make you a Christian, but it does show those around you that you belong to Him!

Ashlyn chose to get baptized with our high school students which was special for me. The youth were so supportive and encouraging and cheered loudly for her as she followed through in baptism. My friend and the senior high pastor, Dylan, baptized her. Jason and I were given the privilege of being in the water with her as people who help her in her spiritual growth. The baptismal pool is in the center of our church lobby area. She couldn't touch the ground with her feet so we brought in a little stool for her to stand on. After we were done and changing clothes I asked if she heard everyone cheer so loud to her. She looked at me a tad confused and said "no" but grinned when I told her they did. Poor girl was just nervous with everyone looking at her(you can tell by her serious expression in all the pics)...a trait she got from her Daddy who also was nervous about being in front of everyone.

I can't describe the joy you experience when you see one of your children fall more in love with Jesus.

Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for the life and hope you have given us. Thank you for allowing Ashlyn to choose you. May she always walk closely with you and may others around her come to know you too because of her life. Praise You, my Savior and my God!

There is a white-bearded Gampa whose girls love him very, very much.

He takes them to favorites like IHOP and reads to them 'til mom says "time to stop."
He swings them real high and cheers while they ride.
He even brings lunch to their school.

He plays lots of games and tells them they're smart.

He is, by their definition, so cool.

A Gampa like you is one to adore.

Please visit us more all the girls do implore!

I wish I could tell you Ashlyn was studying poems at school and so I decided to join in her efforts just now. But no...just decided to do something different. My dad will enjoy it though. Hopefully, he won't send me any editing back on my post however...right Dad?!

As you can tell Gampa came to visit us a little over a week ago. He took Ashlyn lunch and ate with her at school a couple of times, read more books than you can count, and treated us to Mexican food a couple of times. Poor guy can't get Mexican food up in Pennsylvania. There are quite a few reasons why PA isn't where I'd want to live (sorry, but true) and that's got to be up there on my list. I'm amazed he hasn't whittled away since moving up there a few years ago. What am I saying? The man will eat anything. In fact, while he was down in Texas he ate livers and onions twice. Thankfully, not in my presence. Because, well, to term a four year old..."Eeeew!"

He started a tradition when Ashlyn was itty bitty of taking her on dates Saturday morning to IHOP. She loved it and looks forward to it every time they are together. Each granddaughter has been added to the venture and it's a special time for all of them now. Yes, the old man managed to take all three of them by himself!

Reese over the past week has said to me several times "I want Gampa." I know how she feels...I stood on the corner and cried after he drove away. We love you Dad! So glad you came!

The spirit echos still

Today, seven years ago, the greatest woman I know went Home to be with Jesus. It's a day I won't ever forget. My mom is a woman I will never ever forget.

On Sunday we had a student in our youth group lose his own mom to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, just like my mom. I had been following their blog for a few weeks because I wanted to best know how to pray for their family, pray for his mom, pray for him. Last week I read a post that took me back directly to the last couple of weeks with my own precious mom. I quickly hid myself in a bathroom stall and cried. It's so amazing how grief can hit.

About three weeks ago I read a verse in Hebrews 11 that captivated my heart and made me think about my mom. It's verse 4 and says, "Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith." There are so many things my mom was an example in. She was one of the most kind, humble and giving souls you'd come across. She was queen of hospitality and knew how to make any and everyone feel comfortable in our home. She rejoiced when we rejoiced and cried when we cried...okay, and even at most Hallmark commercials and when missionaries spoke too.

Yet, more than anything, her example of faith still speaks to me. She loved Jesus. She loved Him with a child-like faith. She loved Him when everything was going well and she continued to love and trust Him when she was so sick with the cancer that absolutely ravaged her body. She didn't want to leave us here but she wasn't scared to die. She knew her Lord and she knew He would be there to take her Home. Her legacy of love...for Christ, for my dad, for Andy and I, and for those around her lives on and it always will. I am a better person because of her.

She had a laugh that was contagious and everyone recognized without even having to that it was coming from her. She had a way of burning rolls in the oven most of the time and laughing at it still. She had a way of rearranging furniture every few weeks. She had a way of cheering loudly for her son. She had a way of loving her man. She had a way of making me feel more loved and at home than any other person on the planet ever has. She had a way...a way I long to have myself.

"Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her. There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised! Reward her for all she has done." Prov. 31:28-31

Momma,

You are a woman to be praised. While I miss you terribly, I am so glad you have received your Reward in Him. Thank you for still speaking to us by your example of faith. I love you!

Forever,

your Kimberly

(Friends, please also pray for the Howell family I mentioned above and for the Jacobs family too...a friend who lost their baby at 34 weeks)

God of great wonders!

This picture of sweet Reesie was taken just a few moments ago...
This was of her last year...

You see, on this day last year at this time of day, I was lovingly surrounded by family and friends. I was watching a tv screen that told me what part of the open heart surgery my baby girl was in. I was just waiting for a kind nurse to come out and let me know that everything was going okay. I was praying for an amazing surgeon named Dr. Mendeloff.

The picture above actually isn't of her on the day of surgery. It's the day after. I don't have any of her after her surgery that day because I, in wonderful fashion of a mother who loves her child desparately, passed out when I saw her with all the million tubes coming out of her body, and had to be taken to the E.R. Nice, huh?! Thankfully, I sat down realizing it was happening and didn't hit my head on anything.

Can I tell you the one of the things I remember most about that day and the couple of days before hand? I had never felt the truth of Philippians 4:7 which tells us "you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" until this time. I wish I could explain it but I can't. But it was totally supernatural. I literally felt carried by the Lord because of the prayers people were praying on our behalf.

I mean, let's be honest, I am a (not proud) worrier. I love my kids more than life itself and thinking about something happening to one of them scares me to death. Here is my normal day to day life: when I walk down a flight of stairs carrying one of my daughters I think about what would happen if I tripped. When I drive through stoplights with the girls in my car, a lot of times I think about the horrendous possibility of an accident. God has rescued me from a lot of my fear, but there are days where these thoughts creep in. So to be completely at peace on a day where my child was being cut open, her tiny heart stopped and operated on,
and then prayerfully it starting again...well, it's nothing short of a miracle.

And that is the God we serve, a "God of great wonders!" (Ps. 77:14)

Father, today we celebrate the life of precious Reese Ellery Mills, that you have given us not just once but twice. And we celebrate that you are a God of miracles...big and small! You deserve all praise! Thank you.

Kid of His heart!

I have been overwhelmed lately for the love I have for my children. Sometimes I feel like my heart might just explode I love them so much! And there have been many times over the past few weeks where I feel like time is slipping by, not in a bad way, but in a way that reminds me that life is precious, and without Christ, it isn't permanent.

There are so many dreams and prayers I have for my girls. Greater than any heart's desire I have, is my desire to see each one of them come to accept Christ into their life and to love, walk and experience Him all the days of their lives. I desire for them to be healthy and safe. I desire for other's to come to know Christ because of the way they love Him. I desire for them to be blessed with godly husbands who put them second only to the Lord. I desire for them to be blessed with children and knowing what it is like to love one of your very own. And I desire, very much, to be there for all of it.

I feel like God has been teaching me so much lately, drawing me close to Himself, and reminding me that He loves me as my Daddy too. And He desires, perfectly desires, what is best for my life. His Word has brought so much fulfillment to my soul lately. I can hear Him speaking to me, as a Father to a daughter.

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm there is. It is the very center of the Bible. And in my mind, both of those truths are not an accident. Why? Because the entire psalm is about the richness, the life, the eye-opening truth, the wisdom, the comfort, the steadfast faithfulness, and the joy that is found in God's Word. His Word!

I have gone back to Psalm 37 over and over again over the past two months. It's like I'm a teenager again reading a little note Jase wrote to me. I want to soak it in. I want to see if there is any hidden meaning. I want to remind myself of the friendship and love between us. This time it is a friendship and love between my Savior and I. I feel like change is coming. I hope it is because my heart desires it. But no matter what change or what sameness (again, not sure that's a real word) might be I will, "Put my hope in the LORD. I will travel steadily along His path" (Ps. 37:34). Because just like my heart's desire for my children, I know He too desires wonderful and eternal things for me.

Let the alarm clock ring.

Before we get into the fun news about my precious children let me give a shout out to all the Pioneer women of the 1800's. An odd shout-out I'm sure but seriously, how on earth did these women keep up with the duties of laundry and dishwashing without our modern appliances? I have such a hard time keeping up and I have machines to help me out.

And not to toot my own boring horn, but...did you know the girls' playroom is actually nice and tidy. Yes, you can even walk in their with your eyes closed and not kill yourself. My kitchen is even somewhat clean!

Alright, onto what everyone is truly interested in: Ashlyn, Laney and Reese. Our Ashlyn Jean started 2nd grade (2nd grade, I tell you!) last Monday. She has a great teacher and we still absolutely love her school. She didn't get placed in the same class as her best buddy, Avery, but they play at recess and in their LEAP class. She does have several friends in her class. Can you believe how cute and mature she is? In other big news, we bought Ashlyn a new bike...one without training wheels. She tried it for the first time Saturday evening. Then tonight we went out for the second time and the girl is a pedaling machine, quite at ease without any training wheels or Mommy or Daddy holding on. It's amazing! She has some Fancy Nancy in her as she told Jason after we got home that tomorrow we should make a cute paper chain finish line so they can race and break through it. She also has started a babysitter's club where she wants to watch babies in our house for friends (while we're here of course) and then give half of the money to children who don't have a lot of money. Sweet, isn't she? (I told you she takes after her mother...I'm totally kidding! That is God's work in her little heart.)

Laney Hope started her pre-K class today at her Mom's Day Out. Again, we totally
love her school too. She came out so excited about her first day. Her teacher, Ms. Jennifer, was also her teacher last year and was pumped to have Laney back. She said Laney even volunteered to be the prayer leader for the day.

We'll wait and see if she volunteers to answer questions related to her letters. I have to tell you, if you begin talking about letters her eyes begin to glaze over within seconds. The other day after we picked Ashlyn up from school I mentioned that while they play school at home Ashlyn will have to help teach her her letters. I said, "Because Laney wants to learn her letters." She just looked at me and a huge grin broke out..."Mommy, you want me to learn my letters. I don't want to learn them." At least the girl can write her own name and her sisters. Oh well, she is extra cute so that will take her places! Actually, she's quite smart...just doesn't want to put that in front of having fun. She really is maturing so much since turning four. I love seeing her perspective on things.

And let's not forget sweet Reesie, who also had her first day at MDO today. Oooooh...she is too cute for words! And speaking of words, I get comments every other day by people who are in wonder over how clearly she speaks and her vocabulary. It really is quite amazing. She can very precisely sing her ABC's and you can often hear her telling Buckner, or one of us for that matter, to "be diet!"(aka, quiet).

She's forever petite, but doesn't let that stop her. She often wants to crawl up into the van on her own and then into her carseat. I'm exhausted watching her. And the girl is always ready for a snack. She weighed a little over 20 lbs. at her 18 month check-up and is almost 22 mos. so she's got to be close to 22 lbs. now! She usually talks refers to herself in the third person saying "Reesie wants that", etc. I could absolutely eat her up!

One thing I often pray for is that my girls will not only be best friends as adults but also all through their childhood. I am so thankful for how the Lord is in answering that prayer. They dearly love each other and are the best of friends. Here is a picture I stumbled upon the other night before bed. Ashlyn was reading to Laney and Reesie.

Here is the view from the front.

Well, I am off to that b-l-e-s-s-e-d thing called laundry again.

Good night, friends!

Here is one last pic to bless you all with some sweet dreams: