Happy Anniversary My Love

My Love,

It's hard to believe it has been 8 years since we said I do! Time has really flown by. When I think back on that special day, June 17, 2000 ~ I smile. I smile because while I was madly in love with you on that day, I love you more today than I thought I could. I smile at who we were then and who we have become since then. I smile because we had no idea what God had planned for us. I smile because we could sleep in AND nap in the afternoon : ) I smile because I had no idea what an amazing dad you would be. I smile because while you loved to play sports (and still do) the enjoyment you felt while playing sports would not be the same once a little boy and two little girls were waiting at home for you. I smile because you are a more amazing husband than I ever dreamed you would be. Your priorites are right, they are God honoring, and they are leading a little boy and two little girls in the way of the Lord. You show them and me what is important. So, Happy Anniversary My Love! Thank you for eight wonderful, fun filled years. Here's to many more.....

With all my heart,
Carmen

Happy Birthday Sweet Allison

Dear Allison,

Happy third birthday precious girl! It is hard to believe that you are three today. I can remember the day you were born as if it were yesterday. You were a precious, beautiful baby and it has been an absolute joy watching you grow and change the last three years. You are such a special part of our family. You are very fortunate to be in the middle of Adam and Ava. You get to experience being a little sister and a big sister. You seem to love both roles and I love watching how you interact with them. You are definately a daddy's girl. You have such a special relationship with him. Allie, you are absolutely precious to me. You bring so much joy to our home. Your sweet spirit is priceless. You are a girly-girl and rough n tumble all wrapped up in one. There is not much you can't do "all my self." Last night you moved from the crib to your new big girl bed into a room you'll now share with Adam. I had mixed emotions as I laid down with you. I know you are growing up. Somedays I wish the world would stop so I could soak it all in a little more but I know that it is all as it should be. I love you sweet Allison. I look forward to all the memories that lie ahead. I look forward to watching you explore all that God has created. And I look forward to watching you become all that God has created you to be. For now, I'll hold you just a little tighter.

All my love,

Mommy

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day! I woke up this morning to sweet voices singing happy mother's day to the tune of happy birthday. It was precious! I'm going to keep this short because I'm still enjoying my day ; ) I pray that everyone had a blessed day and especially for those that this day was painful for. Blessings!

Goodbye

My sweet grandmother (dad's mom) passed away a few days ago. She was a kind and sweet woman who left a godly legacy. Jason and I (with baby Ava) were fortunate enough to be able to fly to Alabama for the funeral. It was a nice service and she looked beautiful. But, praise God that now her body is healed and perfect and she is home with her sweet Jesus. Praise God!


Agnes Bell Harkness
DecaturFuneral for Agnes Bell Harkness, 88, of Decatur will be Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home with Alan Watkins officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.Mrs. Harkness, who died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at Decatur General Hospital, was born Jan. 16, 1920, in Morgan County to Andrew Parks Bell and Gertrude Hazelip Bell. She was secretary to Dr. M.E. Barrett for 27 years. She was a member of Grant Street Church of Christ. Her husband, Russell Harkness, and her sister, Mildred Bell Chesser, preceded her in death. Survivors include one son, Mark Harkness of Houston, Texas; one granddaughter, Carmen Atwell, and her husband, Jason, of League City, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Adam, Allison and Ava.

Ava's Dedication

Is she a doll baby or what? She has started noticing when her picture is being taken - it is too cute. We dedicated our sweet Ava Kate to the Lord on Sunday. It was a wonderful time. (Her older sister, Miss Allison, put on a little show during the dedication. It seems she misunderstood and thought we would be going on stage to sing and dance!) Ava looked beautiful in her dress. I later reflected on something that Mike said during his prayer and it was something about her becoming the woman that others would someday need her to be. The Lord really spoke to me through Mike's words. One day people (husband, children, parents, siblings, friends, non-believers) will need her to be a woman of God. And she is getting her foundation for that right now as Jason and I raise her. Wow, what a responsibility! Good thing we serve the One True God, the one that knit her together, the one that loves her more than anything and the one that gave her to us to raise! So, sweet Ava Kate we love you more than you know. We promise to raise you in a God loving and God serving home. We promise to pray for you and to most importantly show you and teach about a relationship with Jesus, the lover of your soul. You are a precious gift from God sweet girl.

He has RISEN!

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

He is not here, He has RISEN. Luke 24:6

Spring Break

Wow what a week we have had. We didn't start the week with any set plans but we ended up quite busy. We could not have asked for better weather - it was beautiful all week! Jason returned Saturday night from a golf trip and the kids were so excited to see him they couldn't stand it! Sunday, Adam woke up with a fever so we took it easy most of the day. By Monday everyone was feeling well and we were ready to enjoy our week. Monday, Jason took Adam and Allie to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. I had Miss Ava at her 6 month (can you believe!) picture appointment - she was giving lots of smiles : ) Adam and Allie had a wonderful lunch with daddy and while there isn't a picture to prove it I think they snuck in the chocolate volcano cake without me! Looks like they were having a great time....

On Tuesday, Jason and the kids rebuilt a portion of our fence that was bad. It was part of the prep work for our much anticipated garden. They worked hard all day - Adam and Allie were such great helpers....

On Wednesday we met some friends at the Jumpin Jungle and then we had lunch at Estabans (a family fav!) We had a great time jumping. Well, the kids and Jason did. I enjoyed chatting with Tracy and Rebecca! The kids love that place and of course never want to leave.

On Thursday it was time to plant our garden. We went to a nursery near our house and picked out lots of different vegetables and herbs. We came home and started planting. Adam was very excited about it and helped Jason the entire time. Allie would plant things and then go off and play until it was her turn again. We had a wonderful time planting and it has been such fun to watch the kids go check every morning to see if it grew yet! Too cute....

On Friday, we mainly played outside. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it. Friday night we started our Easter celebration with an awesome service and communion at church. It was a great way to start off this Easter and we were especially excited to share it with some of life group. I'll share about our Easter celebration in my next post. Until then....

Where does the time go?

So, I haven't had the time blog in quite some time as you can see. So here's a little recap (with pics). Here is a recent picutre of Ava (drool on her shirt and all!) She is a doll. Full of smiles and happy most of the time. She finds Adam and Allie absolutely amazing. She can hear Jason's voice from a mile away and immediately starts looking for him. She went for her six month check-up today and weighed in at 13lbs 12 oz ~ 24 inches. Our little peanut! She will start cereal tomorrow. It will be quite an event I'm sure as Adam and Allie can't wait to feed her!

Oh Sweet Allison. This picture really captures her personality. She is our little performer. If there is a song to sing or a dance to dance she is your girl. She is almost 12 (ok not really but in her mind she is!) there is not much she doesn't try. She has a sweet heart and loves her brother and sister. She can bring the greatest joy to your heart and make you lose your mind all in about 30 seconds! I love to spend time alone with her as she is precious and always has something (usually quite funny) to say. I should point out that she is quite the daddy's girl (her shirt says My Daddy Rocks!) She doesn't let her too far from her site and loves to go for daddy time with him and ride in the truck.

Is he cute or what?? Ok so I'm slightly biased but he is a handsome little boy. And with his mom shirt to boot. He wore that for valentines day. Adam has matured so much over the last 6 months or so that he hardly seems like a little boy anymore. He is getting so big. He asks me all the time "How long until I get to play kindergarten?" Luckily (for me) he has a fall birthday so I'll have him home an extra year! He helps with the girls a lot - it's really cute. He'll entertain Ava if I'm trying to get dinner ready and he unbuckles Allie's seatbelt in the car. Such a big boy. He is really into pirates. They keep him entertained for hours. Like Allie, he is daddy's boy. Sometimes he tells me "Mom, I don't think you're ready for this toy. It's for me and daddy to play." What a sweet little boy. He plays baseball in the back yard with Jason. He's really good. It's cute to watch them.

My sweet husband Jason. His birthday was last month and I never got around to doing a special blog post for him. We had a great celebration. The day before his birthday our families came over and we had a little party for him - it was really fun. I made lasagna which is one of his favorite meals. Sunday morning the kids woke him up with a hot cup o' joe and his gifts. I had purchased a Wii for him and he had no idea. Jason rarely gets excited about gifts but he was pretty darn excited about it. After church we went to lunch with some of our favorite friends The Plummer's. It was really a great day. So sorry this is late. Happy Birthday My Love. You are an amazing husband ~ more than I ever could have asked for, far beyond what I prayed for. You are a man after God's own heart and I couldn't be prouder of you. I am honored to be your wife. Here's to many more birthday's......

That is about all from our homefront. We are doing well. Enjoying all that the Lord has provided. Many blessings to you and yours....

Happy New Year!!

I was starting to think this post would never happen. I've sat down to do it several times and something always came up. So, it's 2008 and it's already moving at a rapid speed. We got back into our normal routine this week with MDO and other activities and I welcomed it with open arms. As resistant as I can be to schedules when they are gone I realize how great they are. So, we are status quo. Adam and Jason are at the golf course, Allie is taking a nap, and Ava is laying on her play map playing with a musical butterfly. I am enjoying the quiet!! I hope everyone's new year is going great. Oh, one last thing.... Please keep grandma Ruby (Jason's gma) in your prayers. She has not been feeling well and is in the hospital. God bless her - she is 93.

I leave you with this new year's prayer from a newsletter I received:

Jesus, how thankful I am for your mercy and grace. Give me godly goals and priorities for my life this year. Show me any empty or self-centered goals I’ve set apart from you. Draw my heart closer to you each day, and burn within me a passion for your Word and your ways. Help me put you first in my life, and allow me to see the beauty giving you priority brings. Change me from the inside out. Amen