Introducing...

Tucker Allen Pearce
December 2, 2010
7:16 a.m.
9 lbs. 4 oz.
20 1/2"

One precious baby ~ One beautiful momma...

MaKayla, Auntie Bri and Tucker

Mallary and Tucker

MaKayla and Tucker

I'm amazed...

Uncle Kyle fixing his "Little Man"...

Marci is one happy, proud and wonderful grandma!

Gettin' loves from his momma...

Pure and absolute sweetness...

I had no doubt that Tucker would be fantastically sweet, but I simply had no idea how wonderfully precious this little (big) bundle of love would be. Kyle and I are still in awe of the reality that we are "great" uncle/aunt.

Danielle has always been Kyle's "little girl" so seeing her emerge into the realm of "mommy hood" has been moving to watch. From the time this beautiful little girl tiptoed into his heart (she was about a year and a half old when we started dating) he was totally taken. She used to stumble around the house in his over sized jeans and peer out from underneath his monstrous ball caps. Through the years, the love has grown... Last year he sang "Cinderella" at her wedding reception for her father/daughter dance and this year he is awestruck at witnessing her becoming a mommy.

Mark and Marci are in love...
Bri is head over heels infatuated...
We think he is simply amazing...

Little Man has arrived...
Tucker is here...

Faces That I Love... Thoughts From MaKayla...

I love the people to whom these faces belong so very, very much!!!

Me and My Gorgeous Momma...

Fun summer memories... We're close "homies"... :0)

Grandpa G's 65th Birthday...

Never a dull moment with Bri...

Mal, and the two men in her life...

Sharing a special supper with best bud Becca...

Crazy Uncle Troy...

Inseparable...

Mr. TJ...

Soul Sisters from the beginning...

Oh how I love my Grandpa B...

Note: Danielle's belly has definitely grown since this picture... and I am SO glad...

The "Three Amigos"...

My Handsome "Mr. Darcy"...

My Uncle Mark...

We're not real sure that we are sane...

My AMAZING Momma and Daddy...


"I Praise you God, for these faces that make my life so very, very special! I pray that I never have to live without them!"

Current Project...

I just thought I would share a few images of MaKayla's current project. We aren't starting school until after Labor Day as I want to squeeze the most out of summer that I can so this is what she has been working on for the past several days! Kyle and I's niece, she and Mal's cousin Danielle is expecting their first child, Mark and Marci's first grandchild and my mom and dad's first great-grandchild near the end of November or the first of December! We CAN'T wait although I told "D" that we would have to schedule an appointment to see "Little Man" much less hold him! :o)


MaKayla has done a great job on this project and although she bought a pattern at Hobby Lobby for .99, she hasn't used it much at all. She wanted a textured feel and it is turning out super cute and super soft! We will be making a trip to JoAnn's today for batting...

My Value...

Kyle, MaKayla, Mallary and I had a wonderful weekend helping Danielle (our oldest niece) and her husband Lee do some renovating to a home that they recently purchased. Once the finishing touches were complete, we assisted in the moving process; putting things in place and making their house a home. It was a special time and we were honored and blessed to be able to be a part of this "big step" in their lives! :o)


As I sat this morning thinking back over the weekend and various aspects therein, I found myself so humbled and grateful where the Lord has taken Kyle and I and the ways in which He has grown us. Oswald mimicked my thoughts this morning as I pondered...

When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of the Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.

Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ in John 13:1~17.

~Oswald Chambers

For so much of my life I depended on and expected others to bring value and purpose to my life which inevitably landed me in the pits of drudgery and discouragement. Throughout unique times and seasons that the Lord has allowed Kyle and I to experience, I have found freedom in the fact that my value comes from God and God alone.

I have found much freedom in the fact that:

*when no one else notices, God does...

*when no one else understands why I do what I do, God does...

*when no one else understands why I don't do certain things, God does...

*approval from others is insignificant, God's approval is imperative...

*my life to others may seem menial, but to God, I am right where He wants me...

*the peace that comes from following hard after God supersedes words and attitudes of criticism...

*striving for the favor of another is taxing, resting in God renews life within me...

*the merit others place on my life means nothing, my value to God is EVERYTHING!!!

I am so thankful for the times and seasons I have walked with my God and my awesome helpmeet that have molded me into who I am today. I am thankful that although numerous people that I deeply love have commented, "You have changed. You just aren't who you used to be. What's happened to you?," nearly all in a contrary manner; I know Who's I am and from Where I have come. Some see the changes in me as negative; I see them as Life. Some wish I would return to the person I was; I am thankful that I am a new creation in Christ.

The longer I live and the more I grow in the grace of my Saviour, I find that there is no greater reality than knowing that He loves me, He rejoices over me and He values me...flaws and all! :o)

My Beloved is mine, and I am His...
Song of Solomon 2:16

P.S.) It was great to spend time with those I love this weekend being who God has created me to be...nothing more, nothing less...just me! It was great to go and "rest" in the work that I did...not trying to earn favor, approval or "self-promotion", just serving from a heart that my Father has placed within me. Little-by-little, I am being molded, crafted, transformed and changed into the likeness of my Creator...I'm so thankful for my value in Jesus...a value that no one can change!

Fantastic Friday...

At the beginning of this school year, I decided to switch things up a bit and name each day of the week, so we now have...

Magnificent Monday...
Terrific Tuesday...
Wonderful Wednesday...
Thankful Thursday...
Fantasatic Friday...

So...today is FANTASTIC FRIDAY and that it is! It didn't feel so much in the first hour of my morning but then I spent some time with Jesus and He reminded me that:

my frustrations are menial...

I have much to give praise for...
I'm not to sweat the small stuff...
I need to focus on what I know, not on how I feel...
He loves me...
I am blessed...

Not to mention...
I received a text from a precious friend that said, "NO cancer"...



the sun is shining...



my husband told me that he longed to be with me...


I saw the beautiful face of my firstborn...


I got to talk to my sister...


I shared a short chat with my oldest niece...


Julie called to find some encouragement and in turn encouraged MaKayla...



Mal's sleepy smile radiated into my eyes...


my "Baby-Boo" (Bri) called for a quick second...


God is all around...
God can be trusted...
God is faithful...
God loves me...
God loves you!!

Be blessed and have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY!

I plan to and hope you do too! :o)

"D's" Wedding...

Danielle's wedding was absolutely busy, wonderful, beautiful, memorable! It was everything we had hoped and so much more! The preparation time provided special opportunities with Marci's family and when it came time to return home Sunday afternoon, our family of four was regretful and sad to see it all come to a close! Essentially we spent from first-thing Thursday morning until late Sunday afternoon cooking, decorating, celebrating, sharing and cleaning up. It was three days of early mornings and late nights getting less-than-usual sleep but oh how I wouldn't trade the moments the Lord afforded us for any amount of sleep. I look back on those times and my heart is full to overflowing...it couldn't have been any more wonderful!Hanging lights...lots and lots of lights...

More lights...

And even more lights!!!

Lots of potatoes...55 pounds to be exact!!!

Lots of eggs...10 dozen to be exact!!!

Lots of onions...12 pounds to be exact!!!

Awesome kitchen help...and I love em' too :o)

Arranging flowers (table decorations)...

Lots and lots of flowers...

The finished product!!!

Rehearsal was a bit chilly...


...down-right cold to be exact!!!


BEAUTIFUL...
...before...

...during...

...after!!!

Headin' to the wedding...
Baby Boo and Fifi

'D' and her awesome momma...

Our "Other Girls"...

The Friedman Family...

One very proud dad...One AMAZING moment in time!!!

Thanks 'D' for letting us be a part of your most special day! :o)