Great - Great Grandma Welch is 98!!

Our precious Great - Great Grandma Welch celebrated her 98th Birthday! She enjoyed her party with many family & friends. She had cake & punch, and opened her gifts! She is so sweet & thanked everyone for coming!

Every year different family members will say, "Make sure to get your picture with Grandma Welch, you never know this might be her last!?" The 1st time I heard it said, I thought oh that's sad! Now we laugh because Grandma is so strong, we think she will out live all of us!

Grandma Welch with the Great - Great Grandchildren
Kayleigh, Emily, Nathalie & Crockett

Happy 98th Birthday to Great - Great Grandma Welch!! And Many More!!

Father's Day

Casey is such a wonderful daddy! He loves the girls & they look up to him! He challenges Kayleigh to be the best she can be! He teaches Emily how to be strong! Nathalie has him wrapped around her little finger! I think it is because she is the baby & they are two of a kind!




Only God knows why we didn't have any boys!?! Casey loves his three nephews Andy, Tommy & Crockett, they will be the boys in his life!


Father's Day is such a special day! Casey & I have been fortunate to have some really great men in our lives!



We also have many Uncles & our Brothers!
Happy Father's Day to Casey & all these great men!

This is one of my favorite songs about Daddy's!

Perfect 10!

I can't believe Kayleigh is 10!
We spent a few hours looking at all the photo albums. Kayleigh didn't remember some of her parties, or some of the places we had lived prior to Holliday!

It was fun for Emily & Nathalie too! Wondering why they aren't in the pictures or thinking that they are but it is really Kayleigh! In so many ways the girls look alike and other times they look so different.

A tribute to Kayleigh!
Let's reminisce over the last 10 years of birthdays.

Kayleigh's 1st Birthday!
The Lucy Park Log Cabin











Kayleigh's 2nd Birthday!
Tealwood Apartments
(Former Home of Unkie Joe)

Kayleigh's 3rd Birthday!
Top(Granny's House Former Daycare)
Bottom Chuck E Cheese

















Kayleigh's 4th Birthday!
Gymnastics Sports Center

Kayleigh's 5th Birthday!
River Bend Nature Center
Wow she really changed!

















Kayleigh's 6th Birthday!
YMCA Swim Party

Kayleigh's 7th Birthday!
Village Bowl











Kayleigh's 8th Birthday!
Pioneer w/Thelma favorite waitress!
Also had party w/friends at Kids Hair Safari

Kayleigh's 9th Birthday!
YMCA Gymnastics
Also had party with family at Double Daves!
Wow she has changed!!













Kayleigh's 10th Birthday!!
Skate Whirl
Also celebrated birthday with family at Pizza Hut!!
Day of Birthday went to movies & Samari (Kayleigh's Favorite Place to Eat!)
Also celebrated with Aunt Jess & Crockett at Olive Garden
(Kayleigh's other favorite place to eat!)



Wow how Kayleigh has changed over the last 10 years!
This has been a very special birthday for her!
The next big one will be SWEET 16!
OH MY!?!?!

Becoming The Woman God Created

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever.
Psalm 138:8

This is the last lesson for this book! I have learned so much!

Each of us is defined by the core value of our life. God planned our lives before we were born. Underneath all the layers of expectations is imposed by others and self, the core of your self-worth lies in your relationship with God.

The more you grow in your relationship with God, the easier it becomes to see yourself as he originally designed you: a work of art displayed for His glory.
God has given each of us tailor-made abilities.

All good things must come to an end!

Next week this same ladies group will begin a new Bible Study. I am so anxious to see what I will learn! I will continue to grow and have a better relationship with God and with my family.

Walk This Way

Walking is paying off! Mom, the girls & I have continued our walks. We have walked at Lucy Park, Wichita Lake Park, and out at Moms.

We have had picnics several of the days, and the girls have enjoyed all the interesting things they have seen. From the Falls, to the swinging bridge, to the tiny frogs and ducks, they have even counted and ran after squirrels (Yes my girls).

We have really had a fun time! Our greatest achievement has been walking all the way around Lucy Park and walking from the huge mound of dirt at the Lake Wichita Park to the Spillway. It is a total of 6 miles!!

I have been riding my new stationary bike too! 30 minutes to an hour!
So far, since my Dads Birthday on May 27th, I have lost 20lbs!
I am so glad! I have such a wonderful support system!

Goodbye Ball Park

Cyndi's Angels Baseball Massacre
The Lil Eagles played Cyndi's Angels and just as the title states they got massacred!The score was 16 to 1! BOO! HISS! BOO! Kayleigh scored the only run!

Day of Redemption
The Lil Eagles played Ben Franklin Hotshots, let's just say they weren't so HOT! It was the 2nd time they played them, and Lil Eagles won! The score was 16 to 12! Yeah! Go! Eagles! Go!

Last Game of the Season
Lil Eagles played their rival team Holliday Diamond Divas. The Diamonds shined! They beat the Lil Eagles 11 to 4.

Although the Lil Eagles didn't win many games, they played hard and learned a lot this season! We will wait to see what next season brings!?!

Friendship

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:12-13

I loved this lesson! I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends over the years.

Some of my very best friends were made in grade school: Brooke, Amanda & Kristi. We all grew up in the same neighborhood. We all stayed close during high school even though Amanda moved to Iowa Park.

Of course we had our share of fusses. We all shared moments of jealousy when new friendships were developed. Some other very good friends from high school: Jennifer, Julie, Tammy, Patricia & Rhonda.

Things change & people change. Some friendships remain while some grew apart. Some of these friendships have recently been renewed thanks to Facebook.

Other dear friends have been made as an adult: Sharon, Lula Jane, Joyce & Debra(passed away)

I also have many dear friends in my family! I am so thankful to have such a strong, loving and supportive family.

Many people will pass through your life as acquaintances and nothing more. You will meet others whom you will get to know a little more but to whom you can't quite bare your soul.

Strong friendships take work. Only weeds grow if we do not tend the garden! A beautiful friendship must be planted, watered, fed, weeded and nurtured.

Thank you God! You are my very best friend! I am so glad I can bare my soul to you. You never turn your back on me and you love me unconditionally! Please help me to be the very best friend I can be and to tend my friendship garden!

Walkin' & Talkin'

I love my mother! She told me when school was out she was going to get me moving!

I am not proud of the weight I have gained. It is harder to be overweight when you have been thin, than if you have always had a weight problem.

No more excuses!
We are walking everyday!
We went to Lucy Park and walked the trails and up to the waterfall. I hate to have my picture taken since I have been overweight so the fact that I have posted it on my blog is a huge thing.

Yesterday we walked at her house. They(Mom & David) live out in the country so they have lots of beautiful scenery.

Today we walked at the Lake Wichita Park. We saw 21 tiny frogs, 4 baby ducks & their mama & a giant turtle. The girls, mom & I had a picnic, it was a lot of fun!

I am so thankful to have such a supportive family and that they love me!

Fun Filled Friday

Kayleigh & I went to City View to attend my nephew(Andy's)Kindergarten Graduation. It was so cute! They sang a few songs & walked across the stage to get their certificates. He is so smart and is in the gifted and talented program! We are so proud of you Andy!
Aunt Dee came in town to watch Kayleigh's baseball game. We all went to eat and visit before the game. Kayleigh's team Lil Eagles played Crush. Aunt Dee got lots of pictures of the kids and of Kayleigh. I was sad we didn't get any pictures of Aunt Dee with the kids. Next Time! Aunt Dee we love you and enjoyed the visit! The game was great! They played hard and lost by one point 16 to 17! It was a fun filled Friday!

Sexuality

Yes, the title of this is sexuality. Don't be shocked!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his people; the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100: 1-3

This was a very interesting study.

Women often receive mixed messages concerning their sexuality from their families, the Church and the culture in which they live. Many Christian women have difficulty even talking about the subject of sexuality.

There is a difference between a healthy sexual attitude based on God's original design and a sexual attitude based on social and cultural values. A woman- made in the image of God- is both physical and spiritual. The physical is really a manifestation of what is in the heart and soul of a woman.

God designed physical intimacy to be more than a sexual act. The greatest act of love is to lay down one's life for another. True love involves desiring to come alongside a man to help him realize his full potential in every area of life. This is true intimacy.

Intimacy in marriage involves sacrifice, but when two people are committed to one another, the rewards far outweigh the complexities.

Part of the lesson was to make a list of things we admire & respect about our husbands.
Of course it is easy to pick out the things we don't like!

I enjoyed doing this: good intentions, supportive of our family, forgiveness of my flaws, example for our family, vital in our lives
I love my husband very much and am so thankful we have overcome so many trials!
I look forward to the years to come!

Track & Field Day

The last day of school in Holliday is always Track & Field Day! All the elementary kids participate in relays & races. This year Kayleigh participated in 4 races: 1 relay, the 50, 100 & 200 yard dash! She recieved THREE 1st place ribbons & ONE 2nd place ribbon! Way to go Kayleigh!

Memorial Day Memories

The day began with a trip to Chuck E Cheese! Emily, Nathalie & I, met Jennifer, Andy & Tommy for pizza & games. Kayleigh had school!:( The kids had a great time! Jennifer & I talked about family, books & movies.

We returned to Holliday to pick Kayleigh up from school. That evening she had a Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony. It was special this year for a few reasons. It is her leader Mrs. Lacy's last year, & her Aunt KK(Kelly) was here from Washington DC. Kayleigh was the narrator for the flag ceremony, she received several badges & a community service certificate! The evening ended with dinner at Grandmaw Elwanda's with all the family!