Sea World!

My whole side of the family trekked out to San Antonio the last weekend in July for a SeaWorld trip! We had a ton of fun. Our little family has been a couple of times before, and we always just love it. It was especially fun though to get to enjoy it with my parents, siblings, and all of our nieces and nephews! We even had a surprise baby shower for my sister Jennifer on the last day. She is expecting her second boy in October. Here's how the weekend shaped up....

Faith Anna....or "Fanna" as Tag calls her these days.

Uncle Matthew with da boys...Logan and Peter

Tag loved playing at the splashground!

What a cutie-pie.  Faith has really grown up so much this year!

Claire playing in the tunnel!

Shamu! Shamu!

Getting wet in the splash zone....or trying to.

The gang's all here!

And here...

And here!

Beth having a ball getting soaked when the big log-ride thingy came by. (Can't remember the name of it.  See next pic...)

This is the ride.  Still can't remember the name.  See Luke, Faith Anna, and Logan in the front row.  Don't know the guy next to them in the red.  But he doesn't look like he's having much fun. :)

Beth and T-man splashing around again.

Ooohh!  Don't drink that water, Tag!  We're in a baby pool!

Austin and Jen

Shower for Jen, C.J., and Baby boy Howard

The big brother...

The proud parents...

The goofy crooked-smile-eye-squint.  Ha!  This is what Tag does when you say, "Cheese!"

The cute blue-eyed-dimpled-cheek-bow-head!  I love that girl.

True Beauty

My sister-in-law Natalie just posted a blog about "what makes you feel beautiful"....here is what she says...

My latest issue of Real Simple had an article titled, “What Makes You Feel Beautiful.” The writer of the article interviewed people of all different ages about what made them feel beautiful . The answers to the questions were so unique and varied. One interviewee said, “I feel beautiful when my husband says I make him happy,” and another lady wrote in, “I feel beautiful sitting down with a glass of wine with my husband after we have put our kids to bed and are reflecting about our day.” Someone else who was interviewed wrote, “my work makes me feel beautiful.” This simple question of “what makes me feel beautiful” got me thinking. What makes me feel beautiful? I mean, I am the first one to feel cute in a pair of fun new shoes or a stylish new shirt. But when in life do I truly feel beautiful? You know, that kind of beauty that starts in your soul and makes you feel like the world is yours to have. The kind of beauty that makes me feel that all is right in the world, the kind of beauty that reassures me that my children will grow up to be healthy, happy, giving people, that my marriage will continue to survive the trials that life brings, that trying relationships will be made right. 

So on Nat's charge, here is my list of things that make me feel beautiful:

I feel beautiful when I'm taking in God's creation...whether walking out in the country on our land, hiking in the mountains, watching a Michigan sunset into the bay, or just riding with the windows down....makes me feel alive.

I feel beautiful when I'm doing anything with my husband.

I feel beautiful when I'm sitting around the dinner table doing our "You are Special" plate tradition with my family and hearing the sweet things they say about each other.

I feel beautiful when I exercise....especially when I'm running or doing yoga.

I feel beautiful when someone compliments me on one of my kids.

I feel beautiful when I'm giving something to others....especially if it comes at a cost to me.

I feel beautiful in those early-morning-house-is-still-quiet moments with God, spending time in his Word.

So now I send the challenge out to you....what makes you feel beautiful?