My (soon-to-be) nine year old "baby" girl...

Well in a couple of weeks I will be the mother of a 9 yr old.  Wow, I know we all say time flies, but as a mother, I am sure we can all agree that time does not go faster than with our kids.  Since I have little time before her actual birthday to get her portraits taken I went ahead and decided that yesterday was the day.  Gave her lots of warning, gentle coaxing, then resorted to a huge guilt trip, and finally bribery and  we got some shots that I was semi-happy about.  I know I have said before but having a photo shoot of my own children is a serious form of torture and does not ever make me feeling like Mother-of-Year!  But it did go a *little* bit better than I had expected.  Thank goodness we don't have to do that for another year!  :)  So here are a few.  Hope you enjoy!  (sorry, I know there are a lot but  I couldn't decide which ones to put on here)

Jaedyn's GymTricks Gymnastics Performance

Last night Jaedyn's gymnastics studio had a performance night for parents to show what they have been learning and what their goals are for this semester.  They sent them home with a chart to keep track of everything they accomplish between now and May when they will compete in an in-house meet for medals.  Jaedyn is both nervous and pumped about that. Here are a few pictures from last night.  Not great, photography-wise, so don't judge my photography skills on these please!  :)

So proud of her.  She certainly doesn't get any athleticism from her momma!  :)
Have a blessed evening!

Pioneer Days 2010

Yesterday Jaedyn performed in a demonstration with the GymTricks gymnastics group at Pioneer Days. This may seem like a little thing - However, to those who know her and her personality they will appreciate the "big deal" this was. Her standard line when asked to take part in anything involving performance is "I don't want people looking at me!" So I have to show a few pictures of the great job she did and her courage to have "people looking" at her! :)

Flicker of Hope...

Seeing a flicker (of light and hope) at the end of what has been a very long tunnel the last few weeks. God is amazing! Even when I am super busy and put Him on the backburner He still knows what I need and provides (making me realize I am so blessed but so unworthy!) Just wanted to send this thought out there into blog world! Make Him front and center today...I was sure reminded to today! If you didn't get a chance to see my beautiful daughter's insightful picture in my last post, please scroll down! Leave me a comment if you can sometime! Wondering who reads my (super exciting)posts about my life :) Hopefully with this being the beginning of fall God will bless us with some beautiful cool weather and I can get out and take some equally beautiful pictures to share!
God bless you all!

Does this look like the picture of an 8 year old??!! (sniff, sniff!)

When I took this picture of Jaedyn I didn't realize it would touch me so. As I reviewed my pictures from our last shoot this one just kept talking to me. It evokes so many emotions in me as a mother. She isn't a little girl anymore - more like a young lady. I am blessed that she is still a Mommy's Girl but this picture just makes me think of her as a baby, the toddler, and even now...her tender heart, her sense of right and wrong (and believe me, it IS either RIGHT or WRONG with her, no gray area), and her naivety. I think of all she has yet to do and will do, all the hopes and dreams I have for her and how she is just a one-of-a-kind person who I hope will always be that way no matter what others tell her she should be. She lets the Lord guide her heart and tries to live the way He would have her to and holds others to that expectation as well. I truly think all those things and more when I listen to how this picture speaks to me. Today looking at this picture of my eldest baby I celebrate her and all the things the Lord has in store for her. I pray I am part of those wonderful things and I pray that I can be all I am supposed to be for her as her mom.
Sorry to ramble for those who don't know me well enough yet on this blog but for those who do know that I am most proud in my life to just be a mommy! God bless you all and have a great rest of the weekend!