Happy Birthday Katelyn-Tulsa Zoo Trip

Katelyn turned 1 on 9/20/2011 and we reserved that day for a special family trip to the Tulsa Zoo! Her Uncle Travis gave us tickets. This was her first time to the zoo and she had a blast! She was a natural safari girl! Here are just a few of the pics. (I took almost 200...199 pics to be exact haha)

She took pictures with her own camera!

I thought this was so sweet!

First Carousel Ride!

Zoo Souvenir

Birthday Dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ

 

The manager came by and asked how old she was and we told him she turned 1 that day. He sent our waitress over to offer us a free dessert. We had to pick an ice cream sundae for the Birthday Girl!

The Birthday Girl was worn out! Slept all the way home.

We had such a wonderful time together on her first birthday! It was almost as good as one year ago that day when we first laid eyes on the beautiful baby girl that made us parents!

Pink and Green Cupcake 1st Birthday

Katelyn Joy turned 1 on 9/20/2011! We held her party on 9/17/2011 with family and friends. It was pink and green cupcake themed party. We chose pink and green because that is her nursery colors and cupcakes because that is her nickname. Here are a few pictures of that special day courtesy of Mitzy Little. I must say that it was wonderful having a photographer at the party. I didn't have to think about taking one picture! Here are just a few of the wonderful pictures from her special day!

We had a 3 and under play area.

And a 4 and up activity table.

We attached these balloons to the crayon bucket.

Decorations and Table Displays:

 This table held the favors, guest book, photo timeline of each month of her 1st year and the newborn canvas print that hangs in her nursery.

 The favors were made out of the baby food jars we collected the past few months and filled with one of Katelyn's snacks-Fruity Cheerios.

 Guest book was a copy of If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Food Table

Fruit Kabobs and Veggie Cups

 Animal Crackers, Whales and M&M's

CUPCAKES!

So proud! I made these cupcake toppers and wrappers. Also, I baked the chocolate and strawberry cupcakes...I wanted to be "that" kind of momma.

 The Cupcake's Throne

(just taped up tulle around the tray of her booster seat)

We served water and punch.

 The Happy Birthday Banner 

(Again, I was proud of this. I did it without the use of a Cricut Machine! Although I wished I would have shortened the ribbon holding her name to the top of the banner. Tutorial Here)

Momma's Lil Helper

Made these tissue poms as well. (Tutorial Here)

Our Little Hostess

Greeting a few of her guests!

Time to open gifts!

Let's Blow out the Candle and Eat Cake!

(I had this plan that Kevin and I would help blow her candle out together. It was a little difficult standing behind her.)

And that wraps it up! We had such a good time with family and friends, but what made it so wonderful was that Katelyn had a great time. She was just walking around, laughing, talking and playing with her friends and family. What a wonderful way to celebrate. We are so thankful to all who came and all who helped with her party. Just being there meant the world to us! We love you all!

Love

The other day I was driving down the road with my little blessing in tow. As I was driving my thoughts were completely wrapped up in God's love for me. Oh, the endless ways to describe His love and how so grateful and thankful I am to be loved by Him. His love has done more for me than I could ever afford. He rescued me. He delivered me. He brought me out from where I never belonged. He longed for me. He waited for me. He never stopped calling me His own. As I thought on the love that often leaves me speechless, I thought about how much He loves Katelyn and how will I ever be able to explain that to her. How can you fully convey to someone, to a little someone, something they have never experienced? And it hit me. The way, the only way, is to show her His love the way I show her my love for her. She doesn't fully understand the word love. It is barely in her vocabulary. But she sees my love. She sees it in the way I hold her, hug her, kiss her, speak kindly to her, comfort her, discipline her, remind her every chance I get that I love her.

I know she gets it. She returns the love. She has repeated the phrase she so often hears, "I Love You!" She comes to me without my request and hugs me and kisses me. I've pretended to be sad and cry and she has walked over to me to comfort me by laying her head down on me and crying with me.

So what do I do then? I can tell her God loves her more. I can tell her what He has done for her and for me. But more importantly, I can show her His love in everything I do in everyday of my life. All I can do is what comes naturally and that is to just love. However, I'm not perfect, but I believe if I think on God's love for me everyday then I will be reminded on how to love more perfectly. To be more patient, more kind, less envious, less boastful, less proud, less rude, less self-seeking, not as easily angered, keep less record of wrongs, delighting in evil less and rejoicing more with truth, protect more, trust more, hope more, persevere more, fail less. It is only through Christ that I can do all these things. He will strengthen me. And I can have confidence that Katelyn will know how much she is loved by Him.

Ref. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Philippians 4:13

Stationery Card

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Long Overdue

Wow! It's been over 2 months since my last post! We have been busy-learning and growing! The weather has been getting nicer and we have been taking on some new projects. I'm gonna update on the past couple of months in a couple of separate blog posts. Hope all is well with everyone!

By My Spirit

Today, I was doing my normal daily duties-laundry and entertaining Katelyn (dancing and singing), when this song arose from my spirit. It was a hymn that I hadn't heard in a long time. I remember singing this a lot growing up and I mostly sang it out of routine. I knew the words by heart. As I look back on that, I realize that although it wasn't pure worship at the time, I was still doing a good thing. Because I had the hymn memorized, on an ordinary day like today, it came back to my remembrance and blessed me.

Oh how I love the new. I am very welcome to new methods as long as the message remains the same. I am in no way against new songs of worship. But I cherish the old hymns. There are some powerful old songs that can minister to one's life in big way. When I took that time to ponder the lyrics to this one particular hymn, I was more than encouraged, I was uplifted and strengthened in my faith. I just wanted to share the lyrics with you. May you be blessed as I was!

By My Spirit (Almeda Herrick 1898-1961)

Is there a mountain in your way?  Do doubts and fears abound? 
Press on, oh, hear the Spirit say, this mountain shall come down. 

Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord of Hosts. 
Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord. 

This mountain shall be removed.  This mountain shall be removed. 
This mountain shall be removed.  By my spirit sayeth the Lord. 

Is there a river in your path, a river deep and wide? 
Step in the waters will roll back, you'll reach the other side. 

Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord of Hosts. 
Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord. 

This mountain shall be removed.  This mountain shall be removed. 
This mountain shall be removed.  By my spirit sayeth the Lord. 

Is there a fiery furnace trial, far more than you can bear? 
Behold the blessed Son of God, is walking with you there.

Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord of Hosts. 
Not by might, not by pow'r.  By my Spirit sayeth the Lord. 

This mountain shall be removed.  This mountain shall be removed. 
This mountain shall be removed.  By my spirit sayeth the Lord. 

Then trust alone the mighty God, He speaks the winds obey. 
Take courage, then, oh fainting heart for you He'll make a way.