Pumpkin Patch time!!!

I love fall.  I love seeing the leaves change color....and seeing pumpkins, hay bales, and scarecrows everywhere.  And I love going to the pumpkin patch!  This year, we went with of our best little friends, Avery.  It was a gorgeous day....perfect for feeding animals, riding a hayride, and just running all over the place!

Our sweet friend Avery

Hayride...Where's Farmer Terry?

Yankee Doodle Tag

I love this picture of all 5 of them!  What a fun day.

4 years of Tag

Happy 4th Birthday, Tag!  Can't believe my baby is 4 years old.  And an old 4 at that!  Being the youngest of 4 kids, Tag just has a older spirit than most kids his age.  :) He's been riding his bike without training wheels for months now, loves to ride his big brother's motor scooter....whizzing down the sidewalk at 10 mph!!!, has a bigger vocabulary than most kids a couple of years older than him, and can sing and bust a move like nobody's business!  His favorite dance move is the "robot".  Ha!  He is so much fun.  Still loves to cuddle and snuggle, which I love.  Sneaks into our bed sometimes dragging that silky blue blanket and puppy he's had since he was born....and of course we just eat it up.  I love his laugh, how flexible he is, how he adores his sisters and brothers (he calls Logan is "buddy and bro"), and is all boy throwing any ball with his left hand farther than I can!!!  He truly brings so much joy into my world.  Love you little man!

Birthday cinnamon rolls

Logan with a bacon tongue...

Opening presents with his sissies

He's been wanting this cool turtle night light that projects a starry sky onto your ceiling at night.  It's pretty cool!

My last day to have a 3-year old

Today is my last day to have a 3-year old.  I really can't believe it.  These years have gone by so fast.  Tag is so funny and cute- brings such joy into our house and our hearts.  He has been ready to be 4 for a couple of months now- of course he thinks he's much older than he is with a big brother like Logan.  But since October 1st, we've been on the "birthday countdown"....and today he woke up and proclaimed, "One day left!"  Brings a huge smile to my face....and a little tear to my eye.

Luke took the kids to school a couple of days ago- and in the car the older ones were practicing some things that were due that day.  Logan dutifully recited the first 3 paragraphs of the Gettysburg Address- very impressive!  He has worked so hard on that.  Next, Faith Anna recited Ephesian 6:10-18....the armor of God verses.  Very nice!  Beth then said her memory verse- "The heavens declare the glory of God.  Psalm 19:1"  There was a short pause, and Tag shouted out, "Well I know the Lord's Prayer!  Our Father, who art in heaven...."

Luke said it was the cutest thing as he recited each line....keeping in step with his older siblings.  I guess he is ready to be four....I'm just not sure I am.  :)

Cowgirl soccer

Faith Anna played one of her best soccer games tonight!  She was goalie the first half....and she stopped every ball that the other team kicked!  This is a big deal.  I get nervous every time she's in the goalie box...not only because those balls come SO fast... but also because she is so hard on herself if she let's one by.
Second half she and her buddy, Avery, were the dynamic duo!  She passed a ball to Avery....and AJ scored!  Then a few minutes later, AJ passed one to Faith Anna- and she scored!  It was quite impressive. The best part was seeing that smile on her face after the game.  She knew she had played her best and given it her all.  She was really proud of herself.  It's so fun to watch your kids grow in confidence and self-esteem.  Thank you Lord for being the center of her little heart- and the reason she shines so brightly.

 Cowgirls waiting patiently to begin...

 Focused goalie

 Goalie in action

 Look at that kick!  It went past mid-field!

 Beginning of second half she played on offense- Right Mid

Go #8!

 Faith Anna and Avery in the right half of the pic...getting ready to start their magic.

She running....getting into position....to shoot....AND SCORE!

Great game sweet girl!  We love you.

7 week old Julia

Baby Julia is growing like a weed!  She is so adorable.  We went to visit today and got to hold her for the first time.  Jin and Sang are such proud parents.  Sang kept saying that she was "an angel" and "a genius"!  Ha!  Of course she is....

 Doesn't Jin look amazing?  A beautiful glowing mama...

 Her sweet face is as big as Tag's!  Jin says she really loves to eat.... :)  And likes to sleep all day, and stay awake all night!  Sweet girl's gotta figure out her days and nights so her mama can get some rest!

 Cute toes....

Little genius angel-girl.  We are so happy you are here!  Can't wait to see what story the Lord writes for you.

Luke digs pink

So proud of my guy.  He was asked to speak at a Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon today for the hospital called "In the Pink".  It was a basically a room full of women, all in pink, many breast cancer survivors....and Luke.  :)  He prepared a 15 minute or so powerpoint about the importance of breast imaging....and HE ROCKED IT.  I was just sitting there in the audience watching him speak...thinking, Wow!...he's mine.  Just so smart, so confident, so funny and kind with these women.  I invited his mom to come because I knew she would enjoy hearing him too...plus she IS a breast cancer survivor!  We were both swelling up with pride...watching a man we both love so much.


The real funny thing is, that in preparing for the talk this past week....all those funny college behaviors came back out in him....briefly.  :)  Procrastination, not wanting to mess with it, why did he have to be the one to do the talk, etc, etc.  Of course we talked about it...and I tried to encourage him.  Told him that it wasn't just a presentation, but a chance to shine his light for Christ to a room full...a captive audience.  Reminded him that he was doing this as if working for the Lord and not for man.  And then just like in those days gone by, the pressure player that he is came out- he pulled it off in the 4th quarter with seconds to go....and smashed it through the uprights.  I  mean, total home run....with fireworks!  He did such an amazing job.  And I think his talk was not only relevant and important to the women in the room, but that he actually touched their hearts as well.  One lady came up to him afterward with tears in her eyes and said, "I don't' know if you remember me, Dr. Burton.  But thank you for finding  my cancer and saving my life."  Even the key note speaker asked if he remembered her....and said that he performed her biopsy and was an instrumental part in finding her cancer.  Story after story just brought tears to my eyes.


And of course, Luke knew how to end his talk well...with humor.  His last slide said, "It's worth the squeeze."  All the ladies in the room just giggled....knowing that early detection really is.


And probably the funniest part of the whole luncheon- Luke looked across the table at the sweet Nurse Navigator who was in charge of putting the whole thing on- and said he was just wondering why he was the one asked to give the talk today.  He said something, trying to be funny, like he figured he had "just drawn the short straw" out of their group of 3 radiologists....although his partners were trying to puff him up and say that she had "requested Luke to speak."
"So which one was it?" he asked her jokingly.  "Did you really request me, or were my partners just trying to get out of doing a powerpoint?"
She paused and said, "Well neither, Dr. Burton.  The patients requested you.  The patients asked for Dr. McDreamy to speak."  Ha!!!!  I knew they all thought he was cute.  Who wouldn't? :)


So proud of you, Luke McDreamy.  You did an awesome job today.

Blubbering mess

I'm a mess this morning.  Tears, snot....you know the drill.  I've been teary for days now about Deets- our sweet, ole, chocolate lab.  He's not doing so well, and has really taken a turn for the worse over the last week.  He has been such a faithful part of our family for the past 13 years- our first child really- and I can't imagine him not being here.  He has been such a dear friend.  It may sound corny to some, but those of you who have truly loved a pet like this understand.  I feel like Luke and I need to start talking about making that hard decision- and it's just tearing me to pieces.  And the kids....this is going to be so tough on them.  Little Beth just sits beside him and pets him with big, ole tears in her eyes.  So if you think of it, please say a prayer that we will love Deets well through this hard process.

Then this week I've been studying in Genesis about the inheritance we've been given in Christ- and how it all started with Abraham back in Gen. 12 and 15.  Then today I was reading in chapter 22.  I guess I was already so emotional about Deets....but then reading about Abraham trusting God enough to give up his one and only son.  It just did me in.  God, do I trust You that much?  I think that I do, and I say that I do.  But do I really??  Down in the deepest, darkest parts of my heart, I don't know if I do.  Sure, when it involves easy things, or good things, or things that will bless me or others.  But what about hard things?  What about suffering and loss?  It's so hard for me to wrap my brain around this because I have really never truly dealt with anything like that.  So Lord, please give me a heart that trusts in You completely, no matter what.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge, seek him...and He will make your paths straight.  


And then of course trying to understand the metaphor of Abraham being willing to give up Isaac, his one and only son.....and of the Lord, being willing to give us Jesus, his one and only Son.....for ME.  I can barely take it all in.  That sacrifice....for me.  Paying that price.....for me.  Oh Lord, I don't deserve it.  I guess that's why you call it "undeserved favor"- grace. 

I love how Beth Moore puts it:

A holy God can only bless a bankrupt people if He settles an account.  We are PAID IN FULL.


Thank you for settling my account.  And for loving me....all of us....that much, God.