Thankful Thursday

#1
I am so thankful for Chris. He is so good to me. I feel like we really have the dream and did exactly what we were suppose to. We are one. No matter what is going on in our lives we seem to always be on the same page of life - together.

#2
I am thankful for my friends. Sometimes I feel like I go way too long without seeing them, or looking them in the eye and talking to them, or asking them what is really going on with them but when we finally get the moment to do all that I realize nothing is lost. For those girls who are your "heart sisters" (as opposed to blood sisters) it doesn't matter. (However, that doesn't mean I don't wish I could and want to try to spend more time with them.)

#3
I am thankful for Hannah. She can make Chris and I smile like no one else!

Feet

As many of you know I am not a very big feet person. I grew a little when I went to college and owned my own home. I will wear sandals that will show my feet now and in the summer I actually go around the house barefoot most of the time. Before that -- Absolutely Not. I knew how to take one sock off and put a new one on without my foot showing. It was that bad.

Last week Hannah wasn't feeling too good (they said) so she had to stay home. We had a fun day and I took some crazy pictures. This is one of the pictures I took.

I am sure for those of you who know me, this is a shocker!!

Our Saturday Part Three

Finally, Cole, Savannah, and Hannah are able to get together to play without anyone being sick!


Hannah and Savannah had a wonderful time playing with the kitchen Santa brought to Hannah!


We could not get Cole and Hannah together and looking at us at the same time. They were way too busy. This picture says it all. Cole thinks this new toy he has never seen before is great and Hannah is not sure he is playing with it quite the way she wants him to. I think we are all still learning to share (especially Hannah)!


Hannah and Savannah sharing a splash in the bath.....


.... While Cole wants to know what all the fun squeals are about!

Our Saturday Part Two

See the Our Sleeping Beauty post for Saturday Part One.

I was in the mood to take some pictures of Hannah.

Here were my instructions:
"Hannah, sit on the floor, pose, and smile so Mommy can take some pictures of you!"

This is what I got.
It was so fun!

Expelled

Have all of you heard of Ben Stein's new movie coming out? It is called Expelled. To see some previews for it you can go to this website! (The full preview is about 5 minutes but it is worth watching.)

Apparently it is a documentary discussing the fact that the Darwin theory is being taught in our schools and is so accepted yet it has many holes. The movie is discussing these holes and asking that America talk about the possibility that there is a higher being (God) that is the Creator.

I am not sure about everything Ben Stein stands for and I am not sure what exactly he believes or how he lives or what. All I know is that we as Christians need to be aware of this movie. I even believe, from what I have seen so far, I would like to spend money and go see it. (I have not read a whole lot about it yet, though.)

Check it out!! And please let me know what you think!

Our Sunday Pictures

Don't know if some of you know but my mother has a "thing" about little girls in outfits with Scotty Dogs. Thank You Nana for the beautiful dress!!

Our Sleeping Beauty

Hannah has a music "thing" on her bed. She loves to play her music before or after she goes "night night." (Whether it be nap or for the night.) There are 3 different setting for it. The first is Off. The second is Play. This is where we keep it. Every time you press a button it will play one song. The third is On. This is where it will just play music non-stop.

Hannah has learned how to turn it On so that the music keeps playing. Today at nap time we heard the music going and going and going. Chris goes up to see if she has put it on ON again and this is what he found....





We are guessing she set the music to keep playing and as she sat and listened to those sweet sounds she loves so much -- she fell right asleep.

For Mommy or For Hannah?

I would say Hannah looks much cuter in this outfit than Mommy does.

(Look at Hannah's wild hair!)

Thank you Maw Maw and Poppa for the adorable outfit.

Announcement

I wasn't sure if everyone knew so I needed to be sure you did.

Nicholas Sparks is having a 3rd movie made based on one of his books. (Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember are others..) The book is Nights in Rodanthe and the movie comes out in September.

(Hint Hint Chris, we need a date night in September to go see this movie!)

AND Richard Gere is starring in it!! Yippeee!

I may need to reread this one before the movie.
If you haven't read it, you should!!

To find out more go to this website!

For You, Ashley!

I promised Chris' cousin, Ashley, that when Hannah wore this vest I would take some pictures of it. Of course, I don't mind taking pictures of Hannah!! We love the vest! It is really great - and warm! Thank you, Ashley and Matt!

Are You Happy?

Please excuse the mommy singing and please focus on the beautiful girl!

New Book

I have finished Hide and Seek by Fern Michaels and it was great. The next one in the Sisterhood Series is Hokus Pokus and comes out in April. (Hint Hint, Chris, I will be buying a book in April!)

I am taking a break from Fern Michaels for a moment and reading a Love Inspired book called A Holiday To Remember by Jillian Hart. If you want a light, clean love story, you should try a Love Inspired book sometime. They are normally great for the heart! Other Love Inspired books that I have read and enjoyed are Loving Constance by Lyn Cote, Her Kind of Hero by Carol Steward, Her Cinderella Heart by Ruth Scofield, and Second Time Around by Carol Steward. These are just a few of them. If you choose to read them, remember they are light love stories. Don't expect anything too deep and pondering. They are very enjoyable.

Sunday Pictures

Once again, Sunday pictures ON Sunday! Yippeee!

I was so proud that Hannah was saying cheese but now I can't get her to stop saying cheese long enough to actually smile. It is really funny.

Hannah is, however, understanding some posing instructions and helping me get my pictures. This is great because now I don't have to chase her.

Enjoy!

8 Things About Hannah

Sorry, Elizabeth, that it has taken me so long to get to this.

HANNAH

1. only wants to drink milk. No matter what!
2. is almost always calmed by singing.
3. will just randomly stop what she is doing to dance a little jig on a regular basis.
4. gives the best kisses ever!
5. is very busy - ALL the time.
6. does roll call to see where Mommy and Daddy are at least once every 30 minutes or so.
7. enjoys looking at books.
8. loves to sing her Bible School songs the most!

Alright, if you haven't done it yet it is your turn..... Laura! Sara Jo! Melissa! and anyone else who wants to join the fun.

Thankful Thursday

#1
I am thankful for our church family. I don't know if they all really know it but they are our family here. Really! A beautiful lady at church (who has a special bond with Hannah since we sit with them every service and Hannah holds her hand during prayers) made this doll for her. She didn't like the "face" that came with the pattern so she got a talented artist in our congregation to paint the beautiful face on it. This doll is very special to my heart. I can't get over how beautiful it is. It is so beautiful because of where/who it came from.

#2
I am thankful for doctors who don't think you need to come into the office and pay every time you have a question. If that was the kind of pediatrician we had, we would be BROKE!

#3
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New American Standard Version)
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I am thankful for scripture. I read this to Chris yesterday (I know you all have heard it) and he asked me if I was going to blog it. I took that to mean I should. No matter how familiar, it can touch us every time!

It Is Snowing!!

My family (mainly the girls) have a little contest each winter season. The first one to see snow in the town/city that they live it, wins. What do they win, you might ask? They win the right to call all the other girls and say "ha ha I am first this year - I win!" It is really fun.

All that to say, Grandmom has already won this year (she wins a lot!) but I think I may be the first to have snow with a little accumulation. Too bad that isn't the contest!

Hannah thought the snow was neat. She wasn't that sure about it at first but she was very happy we let her loose outside. That is all she really wants - no matter what the weather.

Amazing Grace History

I got this video in an email and didn't think I had time to watch it (it is 9 minutes long) but while I was at my parents house my mom and dad said I should take the time to watch it. I did and I thought it should be shared.

Our Sunday Picture

This is yesterday's picture. Hannah got this dress for Christmas and I just love it. Thank You Dayna for the wonderful new dress!

Does anyone else love the red shoes like I love the red shoes?? I just couldn't get over them.

THINK

Quite awhile ago I posted something about Apologetics Press (which publishes some great stuff!) and my friend Wendy made a comment that I should look into Focus Press and try out THINK magazine. Chris and I looked at it and we now subscribe to THINK.

I would recommend it to everyone who is trying to raise a child in the way of the Lord in this world today.

This month's edition had a reference to an article about a Kindergarten teacher asking the class to do a project called "all about me." The parents could come in and read one of the child's favorite books to the class. One particular child wanted a bible story read to the class and they were not allowed to do it. Every other child was allowed to read their favorite book except for this one.

I am sad. I am a little shocked. I am baffled. I am scared. What can we do about this?

Hide and Seek

I am so crazy!!!

At the beginning of my book Free Fall by Fern Michaels there was a letter to the readers and it said that this was the last book in the series of 7!! 7!! I can not believe that I missed the first 5 books and didn't notice!! I sort of know what probably happens in those first 5 now so I am not sure I will go back and read them but I am so disappointed I did not realize that earlier. I am so out of it sometimes.

Anyway, then at the end of the book, it said that she just couldn't let the characters go and so she did continue the series with the next book Hide and Seek. SO, to add to my craziness, I have 4 or 5 books from Christmas that are waiting to be read but I went out and bought Hide and Seek because I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

All that to say, Free Fall was good and I am now reading Hide and Seek.

If anyone chooses to take this recommendation on reading these books please note that they are not Christian books. I just don't want anyone to get them and expect something that they aren't. The books are about a group of women who get together and take justice into their own hands. These are NOT man hating books. They serve justice to both men and women alike. And, of course, I have to say, they are crazy story lines. Fern Michaels has an imagination - that is for sure!!

Here is the order they SHOULD be read in.

1. Weekend Warriors
2. Payback
3. Vendetta
4. The Jury
5. Sweet Revenge
6. Lethal Justice
7. Free Fall
8. Hide and Seek
   

Friday Fill In

Here is my Friday Fill In

1. My favorite new song discovery of 2007 was Do It Anyway by Martina McBride.

2. I'm most tempted by Reese’s Peanut Butter Christmas Trees at Christmas Time.

3. Today I want to get all of Hannah's Christmas presents put away.

4. The last thing I took a picture of was Hannah (Big Surprise, I know!).

5. Chris, You and I have memories that make me happy.

6. The most recent movie I’ve seen that I really enjoyed was The Bee Movie (sad, I know!).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting Christmas finally put up, tomorrow my plans include hanging out with the Stokes (yipppeee) and Sunday, I want to worship God!

Labor of Love

My friend, JMelt, introduced me to this song a couple of days before Christmas. I just fell in love with the words. I have been thinking about them ever since. I think this may be considered a "Christmas" song but I say Let's Listen To It Every Day!

Labor Of Love

Words and music by Andrew Peterson
vocals by Jill Phillips

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David’s town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother’s hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David’s town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Family

Being with Family is always fun.



A mommy with her children
always makes a beautiful picture.


Look at these two sleeping beauties.
You don't think they were bored with
us do you?


What did I say about a Mommy
with her children. Always a beautiful
picture.


Hannah really thought she was
big stuff sitting with MawMaw
and Aunt Linda.


Uncle Andrew and Hannah
together again. They sure
do love each other.


Chris was very excited
about Hannah's new outfit.
I am pretty sure Hannah
liked it to.


Nannah and Hannah looking
at something new. It must be
very interesting.


Hannah kissing Tickle Me Elmo.
How sweet.


For all of you who thought I had
a hidden talent, this should take
care of that thought. At least you
get the idea. What a cute bunch!


The Drama!


We are always up for Aunt
Traci kisses. Any Day!

"Twins"

Being born only one week apart, these two love to play together. Let me share with you a few of Landon and Hannah's adventures this past week.

Digging in Daddy/Uncle Chris' belly button was very fascinating. Gross to everyone else but very fun for them.

I am sure they were sharing this toy. I am just sure of it.

Who liked Landon's train best? Landon? Hannah? We still aren't sure.

Hugs and kisses were the norm around the Doughtie house with these two around.

Once again, I am sure they were sharing the car. I am very sure of it.

They decided to have the first annual Landon/Hannah club meeting. They found a very convenient clubhouse to meet in.

Hannah said, "Landon, make sure your daddy doesn't try to cut in front of us for the slide. We were here first!"

I think they were in shock that after all the pictures we had already taken we were actually asking them to look at the camera AGAIN!

Cedarmont Kids Videos are the BEST!