BaseBall season has started

Well this is the most busiest time of year for us because we start baseball with Zack. He will go through the regular season then we Ryan always coaches the AllStar team and we won state last year in Maumelle and then went to regionals close to Jonesboro. So lots of traveling. I love to watch him though. He is such an athletic little thing its always fun to watch him compete in any sport he plays.
He stays pretty active. I just want to brag a little, so...here I go! I will be going with him on a rafting trip for his boyscouts May 12th. Which will be so fun and great bonding time for us. He will be moving up to a higher level in boyscouts. He will be performing with the S.H.O.U.T. choir at church on mothers day. I love to hear him sing! (Even though he is shy and really doesnt want to do it because he's not one that like that kind of attention) He has been chosen for the advanced relay team at school. He was the third fastest runner in the whole 4th grade. He is on the honor roll. I'm just so proud of him. I am proud of all my kids!
Payton has the lead part in her school play in drama. She made the competition cheer squad for next year. She will be in high school next year-man thats crazy. She's really a beautiful young lady. She has been realy big into her youth group at church, called the Upper Room. They are doing a fun weekend retreat this weekend. On Sat. night they will go to see a christian concert called Kingdom Come in Little Rock.
Now Rylie-I love the little poot. But, he is going through some rough times lately with his behavior at school. We were called in for confrence about his loud, ruff houseing, and not listening. He is a boy thats in a class of 16 with half Developly mental delayed kids. (Forrester Davis specailizes in DDS kids) SO, he isn't getting as much attention and he and three other boys are ripping and romping during class time. But, I am still proud of him too. He's just my challengeing child that has WAY to much energy.
Okay enough blogging today. I just needed to brag a little and let it be known how wonderful and blessed I am with such great kiddos!

Beautiful days ahead

Well the weather is supposed to be really pretty this weekend. Sat. is supposed to be in the 80's and full of sun shine. So, this will be a great time to get together with the ones you love and do something fun outside. I plan on taking the kids on the nature trail here in Hooterville. I don't think Ryan's ever been on it. But, we take for granted the beauty God created for us here. Especially right under our nose. We really live in a beautiful place here in the Ozark Mountains and Arkansas in general.

I think about the things that happen, like the Unv. of Virgina shootings and I wonder if the guy that was so disturbed and shot these innocent people ever just looked around him and realized what God had given him? Its sad if he didn't ever experience that. I would say he was in a dark place and never got to see that light!

Life is so short and we all are guilty of not taking time out to enjoy little things in life like just to sit outside and watch nature. Or to play outside with your kids and friends. God is good to us. Even thought there are a few people that never figure that out her in this life time.

Have you ever taken a walk with God? I know your saying wow Steph are you turning into a freak of nature and Holy weirdo? NOPE. I have a friend that goes to college here and is in our Praise band and small groups that really does take walks with God. He says its a peaceful time to reflect on things going on in our life and who else to share you most precious time with than God himself. At first I though - wow this guy is really in deep with the whole religion stuff. But, as I journey on in this life I realize how wonderful it is that I have the strenght, sight, smell and taste of life's little walks. And that I dont take for granted the reason I can take those walks are because of our Father.

So, anyway,,,,, I will incorporate time with my family and God this beautiful weekend and give thanks to what I am blessed with in my time here on earth. I love life-even though it can be hard sometimes and things don't always go as smoothly as I would like. I remind myself when these things happen that I am where God wants me.

So, I hope you all have a great weekend and if you can't take a walk with God at least know that wether do or not he is always there by your side waiting for his time with you. He always makes time for you! Will you for him?

16 IMPORTANT THINGS WE ALL NEED TO KNOW:

1. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

2. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, and the romance in a relationship- and find out you still care for that person.

3. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who
means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

4. When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but oftentimes we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

5. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

6. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

7. There are things you'd love to hear that you could never hear from the person whom you would like to hear them from, but don't be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from his heart.

8. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

9. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

10. There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

11. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do... but do them all in His name.

12. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person, too.

13. The beginning of love is to let those we love be just
themselves, and not twist them with our own image - otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.

14. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

15. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

16. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.

Family is Important!

Since the new company bought us out here at Greenville Tube we have had LOTS of change. Change is good and I am all for new things. I didn't know how much it would add to my responsibilities and I am a little overwhelmed. Thats why I haven't blogged in a while. I don't have as much time to play on the net. I do enjoy my new jobs though and I feel like I am really contributing to our company-so thats good.

This weekend Ryan and I went to Hot Springs with my family. Its was fun. The guys went to the races-it was Derby weekend and the last race of the year. 60,000 people there! So, mom, Lins and I went shopping. We had Addison with us too. But, I was kid less. It was great to just worry about ME! We had a really nice time. Lots of bonding and eating. I miss my time with family. Seems like I get so busy I don't take time to share with the people that mean the most to me. Something I have been praying about to redirect my time and spend quality time with the ones I love.


So, a lot of times we say I should do this or that and don't....I am making a promise to myself that I will reach out to these most important people in my life and let them know they are loved. I will start today by calling my Aunt Kay in Louisville KY to say hi and I love her. She lost her son last year and I told her I would keep in touch better and I have not been true to my word. So, I will, with Gods will, be a better Niece, cousin, sister, Aunt, daughter, wife, friend and mother today!

Friends are important too. My girlfriends at church are starting a Girl Friend Group. It consists of our mentoring mother, Kathy and four of her little mentees. Kathy is a wonderful lady that just retired from being in the educational world and has two grown kids that live out of town and state. She's a devote christian. Years ago she devoted her life to Christ. Since her retirement she has more time to really be a follower and a leader. With her wonderful heart and spirit she has taken 4 of us women that are all the same age under her wing. We all have in common that we are mothers, wives and Gods children. We all lead busy lives with trying to balance marriage, kids, work, self and most importantly church and God. So, being there once herself, Mighty Mentor Mrs. Kathy has a lot of good advice and direction and most importantly prayers for us all. So, we are going to start meeting at church on Wed. nights in place of our small group, that we have finished after 14 weeks of great sturr, to share the word of the Lord and each others lives. So, I am so excited to be a part of this. We will all be going to the International worship Institute this summer too. From what I hear this week will change someone forever, its that wonderful. I am just so thankful to have friends like this and family.

I just wish I could see my family more often. I have a wonderful Aunt Terry that lives in Pine Bluff and her daughter Tiff. I have a Aunt in Kentucy and a Aunt that lives right here that I don't get to spend much time with because they live away or we are all so busy with our lives. I have great cousins to these wonderful women that I would love to see more of too. Even though I don't spend much time with them I think of them so often and love them so much.

I hope you all know that I am here for you anytime you need me!

Some of us at Church have been discussing that it would be wonderful to touch a non-believer in a way that would change his/her life forever. To help them find God and become one with the Holy Spirit. We have a wonderful worship servece planned on Easter. With the Drama, Choir, Praise team, Crosswalk, Easter Egg hunt-just to name a few. Just a wonderful celebration for Jesus. It is supposed to bring tears to your eyes-I'm sure I will be one big blubbering mess! We even hope that one of the CEO church goers (Christams, Easter Only)will be touched this Easter. If only one person could be saved it would be awesome. So, I ran across this article and want to share it with you and wish you all a Happy Easter!

What is the meaning of Easter?
While the focus was once on Easter Sunday, now it is on the Easter Bunny. But Easter Sunday is much more than a day of colorful plastic eggs and chocolate bunnies; it is in fact a day that left the world forever changed.

It had been three days since Jesus had received the death penalty by popular vote. His friends and followers were devastated, as they had come to believe that He was not just an ordinary man, but the Son of God. He had performed miracles, healed every disease, and even brought a man back from the dead.

On that third day—the day we now celebrate as Easter Sunday—His friends went to His grave, but instead of finding His body, they found an open tomb with no body in it. In fact, what they saw was an angel who told them, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said it would happen” (Matthew 28:5, 6).

Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday; now He offers to you the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. This is the true story of Easter, and this salvation is for you. Here are 4 principles that tell how you can receive the gift of God for your life.
1. God Loves You!

The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"

The problem is that

2. All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God.

The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.”

The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago,

3. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."

God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

4. If you want to accept Christ, you can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this:

"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Did you pray this prayer?