This And That Tuesday...

Okay...Okay...I saw my first BIG spider this morning scurrying across the kitchen floor and I'm not one bit happy about it! I HATE, HATE, HATE spiders which means I will be having Kyle get some "wonder-spray" from our brother-in-law Mark. We must get them gone before they mate and multiply! Yucky! Yucky! The weather has turned amazingly beautiful here the past several days so I am fairly certain that is what has started bringing the furry fellows inside! Did I say, YUCKY?!? I've had this fear ever since I was a little girl that if I try to swat/smack them they will grow bigger and bigger with every whack... I don't feel any more love for them now then I did 30 years ago!!!

Both MaKayla & Mallary were moving quite slow this morning and since the weather was so nice, I suggested that we all put on our shoes and take a stroll around the pond. It was a great way to start our day! :o)

We saw:

The sun coming up...

Reflections in the water...

New life emerging from the dead ground that we burnt off...

The first calf of the spring season...

I want the girls to remember moments like these... I want them to recognize the simple gifts that God gives us through His presence in creation and nature...


For the most part I'm not a big fan of Facebook since much of what people post isn't fit to think...much less type or share with the world but Kyle and I recently decided to open an account in order to stay better in touch with family. This way we get to chat with Bri more consistently as well as watch Tucker change and grow. I love the idea of being able to connect in such a diverse way with so many people but I seriously am amazed at what some people feel compelled to disclose and the language in which they disclose it... I have enjoyed being able to visit Marci's, Bri's and D's Facebook pages and "see" their family whenever I am really missing them...which is often!

(is he not the most precious thing EVER....)

Life has been unusually crazy for us the past few weeks and between the non-stop busyness and not adjusting to the time change that took place a week ago, we are all quite tired!

Over the past few years, Kyle and I have really purposed to simplify our schedules and scale down our outside activities. The Lord clearly showed us that we needed to be going/doing less and spending/investing more time as a family unit. It's been a great change for everyone individually and for us as a family as well, yet when those unpreventable busy seasons of life do come around, we all have a little trouble keeping our focus.

All-in-all the past several days have been full of fun, family and memories sprinkled with yard work, house work, school and life in general.

We've:
had fun with cousins/nieces
celebrated a birthday & an anniversary
spent time with my side of the family as well as Kyle's
assisted Uncle Mark in getting a home cleaned & ready for his dad & grandma
enjoyed lunch & a time of fellowship with very special friends
helped Bri begin a new venture in life
relished in the preciousness of baby Tucker...
recognizing each of these opportunities & moments as rich gifts from the Lord!

As you can tell, life has been busy, but life has been good!

The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

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!"

Work Seasoned with Celebration...

Today Kyle's dad celebrated his 65th birthday and although we spent the majority of the day working, we were blessed to be able to spend the day with him!


Kyle's parent's are in the process of purchasing an in-town home that needs a great deal of TLC given the fact that the house hasn't been lived in for twelve years. The past three weeks we have spent great amounts of time painting, wall papering, taping woodwork, tearing up carpet tackboard, cleaning, washing windows, yard work, ect... Today Kyle and our brother-in-law Mark spent several hours painting the basement while Marci, Bri, MaKayla and I spent the day doing LOTS of yard work! Needless-to-say we will rest good tonight and be very sore upon waking in the morning...I'm not being pessimistic however I'm sore already so...


Kyle's dad has been battling lung cancer for over two years and after extensive chemo and radiation, his body is very weakened and fragile. This means a project like this is a big undertaking for them, yet one where we are thankful we live close enough that we can be actively involved in the renovations.

Today was a busy day of work but the Lord allowed the day to be savory seasoned with celebration as well!


We about to fall into bed blessed and fulfilled!

Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Proverbs 24:13

Celebrating Life...

July is a month of birthdays for our family which equals lots of fun get togethers and more than usual food intake, and since my sister and her family as well as my dad and mom live only about 45 minutes from us, it's easy to plan something last minute and still make it work!

After watching some short home video clips Saturday afternoon I see very much where the Lord has done a mighty work in my life when it comes to celebrations such as these! When our girls were little I can remember having "grand affairs" when it came to their birthdays...choosing a "theme", having specific decorations that matched, baking and designing two or more theme cakes, serving lots and lots of food and inviting 40+ people. Those were fun times and alot of great memories were made in the process but as has been the tutelage of the Lord these past five years, I've learned to SIMPLIFY in unimaginable ways!!! I remember very vividly the stress of the making those celebrations a reality...cleaning, cooking, baking, preparing... In the end, I was a grouchy wife and momma who inevitably used the repeated words, "You're gonna have to wait a minute! Can you not see that I am busy!?! I have too much to get done to attend to that! Blah, blah, blah!" Who was I having the party for anyway???? Wow has God changed my heart and my view of things...making the complex simple! I am very grateful for the transforming work He has done on my heart! :o) After all, it's not about an extravagant gathering, it's about celebrating life!

This summer Bri started the month off turning '18' on the 8th!
(Fun cupcakes with ice cream!)

The next week MaKayla turned '16' on the 14th!
(Buttermilk brownies w/homemade ice cream!)

The week following my sister Marci turned '42' on the 22nd!
(Ice cream dessert...her favorite!)

And to end the month Kyle celebrated # '39' on the 29th!
(Brownies...he got into them well before we sang!?!)

I've learned that the elaborateness of the time together most certainly doesn't reflect the depth of the love that I have for these that God has blessed me with. I've learned that a last minute, "Hey, I think we are going to throw some burgers on the grill, do a little swimming and celebrate a life," works just as well with alot less stress than invitations sent out a month in advance, over-the-budget money spent on food and rat racing preparations. I've learned that the fewer in number the more quality time spent. I've learned that self-promotion is a sin and doing things with even a hint of intent to impress others glorifies self rather than Christ. I've learned that the time I would spend on getting everything done for the big event, I would rather invest in the personal life of the one I am celebrating!

It's been a month of celebrating life and I am deeply grateful for yet another year to hold these that I love so much close to my heart! I'm grateful that I still have them to squeeze tight, be warmed by their smiles and touched by their presence day in and day out! I'm grateful that I can still hear their voices in my ear first thing of a morning or at the push of a button! I love to love them and I'm honored that they love me in return!

I'm celebrating life!