Birthday Girls!

Six years ago was the most amazing day of my life, my sweet Kinley came into the world. Equally three years ago was another amazing day, my sweet Bailey was born (two weeks early).  God works amazing miricles and I'm glad He chose me to be their mother.

Happy Birthday my sweet angels!

Transforming Love

Isn’t Love interesting? We spend our lives searching for deeper relationships with the ones we love and as soon as it gets uncomfortable we run from it. Ok, maybe that’s just how I seem to handle relationships in my life sometimes? It’s one of my areas of weakness.

I think in any relationship with someone you truly care about there is a level of vulnerability. But to be vulnerable comes at a huge cost. Building deep relationships has been a struggle for me. I’ve grown accustom to constructing walls around my heart because the hurtful actions by a few people I valued in my life. Because of this, I subconsciously think the deeper someone gets to me; the more they could potentially hurt me. Sadly, my immediate reaction is to preserve and protect.

I know that in any true relationship there comes a cost. I’m learning if I want any relationship to grow I need to allow myself to be open and vulnerable. This is a very scary thing. The deeper someone gets, the more they could potentially hurt me.

I have fallen into believing a lot of lies.

Jesus' love changed a lot of people. In the bible, Paul turned from a heartless persecutor of Christians to a self -sacrificing missionary. Zaccheus was transformed from a shrewd, greedy taker of money to a selfless giver. One of the most amazing transformations happens when Jesus meets a woman who is Samaritan and hated by the Jews. She went through five husbands and was living with a man she was not married to. Jesus talks with her, which amazes her. The Lord doesn't judge her. Instead, He offers her salvation.

I’m learning to see a beautiful aspect to the pain and hurt I’ve had in my life. I’m given hope that it’s possible to let it go and learn to be more vulnerable with the ones I love. Please hear me say that this is a journey for me.  I am FAR from conquering this area of my life, but if God is only good (and I believe He is) then he will use all circumstances for my good to accomplish His purposes. Love means that opening myself up, even if it means my heart is crushed. That’s what makes me stronger.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday my perfect little man.  I love you more than you will ever know.

Road Trip!

We took the kiddos to the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma this past weekend and had the best time.

Russell and I agreed this was by far one of the best zoo's we've been to.  What made this park unique are the memorials that serve as a place for others to remember loved ones they’ve lost. Each animal in the park represents a human who has passed away. Their mission is to provide lifelong homes for abandoned, misplaced and abused animals, as well as those whose owners can no longer care for them. 

They had some pretty amazing baby lions, tigers, and bears.

We decided to take a personal tour through the park and met Cletus the kissing Camel.  Colson thought this was pretty funny.

We had the opportunity to play with this one month old tiger.  She was so sweet and playful, the girls and I wanted to take her home with us.

We were in luck, we got to see a two week old baby bear.  They had him sleeping in a baby bed.  The park director has both the tiger and bear staying in one of their rooms in their house so he can feed them until they are old enough to take care of themselves. 

I'm not sure who had more fun, the kiddos or Russell and I. Check out their website!http://www.gwpark.org/index.php