My birthday girl!

(Her shirt says, "I'm the birthday girl!" That's the best pic I could get of it!)

Paisley is one! Both DH and I cannot believe that our baby is one year old. I know this will sound absurd but I still have a hard time thinking that *I* am a mother and that I have a child of my own. Sometimes I just look at her and think about how that before I got pg I truly thought I'd never have a baby. God is so good. But you know, I have to say that even if God didn't allow us to be parents, He would still be good.

DH decided that we should invite everyone he works with to P's party. I went along with it and while it sure was a lot of work, I loved it. (Hey, the first birthday is all about the parents anyway!) I did research online and found that unique handmade decor was pretty expensive so I decided to make my own. I've had a Cricut die-cut machine for almost two years and got frustrated when I tried to use it. Well, since I have a bit more time on my hands since we've moved, I pulled out that old Cricut and found that it's one really cool invention-and if I just messed with it for a while, I could actually make some awesome looking paper decor! I could make banners that were selling on Etsy.com for around $30 for about $5. (I already had all the paper and photo stickers to mount it.) The photo banner cost a bit more but again, people were charging around $30 for one. I strung together a series of 13 photos ranging from new born to 12 months. It was a big hit!

The party was a butterfly/flower theme. Here are a couple pics of my cupcakes and favors.

I did end up buying the edible butterfly cupcake toppers from Etsy because there was no way I was even going to think of attempting that. They were life like and while the didn't taste good AT ALL, they were pretty.

I know you all probably don't care about all the details I'm sharing with you but shoot, this is the first birthday party I've ever thrown and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

Here's a pic of P "helping" me with the party favors. I made my own bubble tins! The wands were pip cleaners and I made a sticker label with her party info and a thank you tag. The kids loved them!

She was given some super fun gifts from family and even though we asked the party-goers not to bring gifts, some still did anyway. She loved EVERYTHING.

She wanted nothing to do with her cupcake and when my sister tried to get her to try the icing, she still didn't want to. It wasn't the big cake smash as I was hoping, but that's OK.

Thanks to everyone who came and who helped! I don't plan on having a party next year as this one wore me out! :) Chuck E Cheese all the way!

A word on Faith

Once again we find ourselves in a new town which to us equals finding a new church. We've been to four different churches in the San Antonio area and none are quite right. In Arizona, we just walked into the first church we tried and said, "This is our church home." That hasn't been the case here. The real issue comes down to what we want in a church. Where does God want us? But really is it what we WANT in a church or where God can use us the most? Do we want a pastor with a challenging message? Great worship? Ministry opportunities? (Am I even asking the right questions?) I've asked several born again Christian believers why they picked the church they did and each person gave me a different answer as to why they were there. Some answers: The people. The worship. The message.


We visited a big name church here in town and it was more like a coffee shop with a churchy set up. Big fluffy couches, table and chairs in the sanctuary to drink your coffee as you listen and sing, and candles EVERYWHERE. While I'm not saying that is wrong, it sure was different. I don't want to dissect each church we have gone to but this process is a bit frustrating.


Pray that we would be where God wants us to be-and that we wouldn't be attending a church because WE want to but because God does.


Pray for a smooth transition and balance for Dh as he deals with his new time sucking job.

Pray that I would get back on track with my daily devotions. (I'm VERY behind since we moved!!!)


P has been such a trooper during all of the changes. She's been in a new church nursery what seems like every week. (SA area plus MN and Houston) Every time the volunteers there say she acts like she's been a million times. Never any problems and a little social bug. I sure could learn a thing or two from her!