you've got to have one

COME ON- YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE!

we are selling these t-shirts for $20 to raise money for the adoption of our baby girl from Ethiopia. adoption is very expensive so please help us by buying a tee and spreading the word to others!




they are really cool. they are the outline of the continent of Africa with a heart where Ethiopia is located. they say "bringing Bristol home". in case you hadn't heard yet- Bristol is her name! it had to begin with a "B" because, well, all the kiddos begin with a "B" and no one can be left out:)

they also have a Bible verse on them Matthew 18:5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

a super thank you to my wonderful friend Emily who I told what i wanted and she did her graphics thing! they turned out awesome friend!


COME ON-PLEASE BUY ONE! YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE OR TWO OR...!

go here to place an order... courtneylankford@tlcmedical.cc and tell me your size and we will set up payment and a way to get your shirt to you. Thank you Thank you!

something i look forward to every year

Matthew 6:28-34 (The Message)

Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? ....

**each february i eagerly anticipate the arrival of buttercups or daffodils (whatever you like to call them). they always surprise me because i think it is still too cold but one day i look and wow-there they are. oh the joy of the first signs of spring!

**i first noticed them about a week and a half ago but they weren't in full swing so i didn't make the trek to them. joey and the kids visited them this weekend and picked me beautiful bouquets and finally, today i made it up there to take pics and soak in the beauty of it all.

**you see this little jewel of a spot is way behind our house, up an unkempt hill, and beside an old and somewhat spooky place. we found it the first year we lived here and i look forward to the grand show every year. it truly amazes me that God creates such beauty tucked away somewhere where someone can only see it if they happen upon it by chance. i think often how it is back there and wish i could see it from my window- or that anyone could see it from anywhere. but, it is just secretly back there waiting to bless someone who finds it. and i thank God that i (and the kiddos) are blessed by it every year.

**if you live close - you should come and see- and pick your own.

**oh and by the way i have something else very awesome to share soon!

forts are cool

what is better when you are a kid than a secret fort in the woods?

another birthday

the hat brigade (aka joey and i) celebrating- can you even tell joe has on his fave head gear? there really is a black cowboy hat on his head but...

we celebrated dana, my sis-in-law, 27th birthday friday nite with some mexican food and some kiddie bowling. (she's the one in blue on the far left for those of you who don't know). the "big" lanes had a 1.5 hr wait and we have no time for that soooooo for something like $2.75/person you can bowl the kid lanes with hole-less balls and short lanes. it was fun! the guys thought it was pretty cool since they could throw/roll the balls super fast and be somewhat aggressive. thanks to ash for the bowling tips- i am not known for my superb bowling skills but did relatively ok. the preggo bday girl surprised even herself with her skillz.

happy bday girl! hope it was marvelous!

faces and legs

a happy heart makes the face cheerful... Proverbs 15:13

Two are better than one...If one falls down, his friend can help him up, But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him! Ecc 4:9-10

And on another note- see those legs in the pic above- i decided yesterday that one of the reasons i really am not a fan of winter is........

i miss seeing those legs!

i miss arms (skinny ones and baby fat ones)

i miss knees (bruised ones and ones with dimples in them)

i miss toes (oh, i love baby feet)

i miss the days of little amounts of clothes- yuck to layers!

i miss tan lines (i do plan on being better with the sunscreen this year- we don't burn but it is not an excuse- i know- bad bad mom)

you know- i just don't like everyone being so very covered up! i want to see their sweet little bodies. it's like you uncover after winter and say wow! they have grown!

feelin' the love

I think the greatest thing about valentines was the joy on briley's face when daddy showed up with her very own flowers and a balloon. she thought she was big stuff! they are now being cherished in her bedroom. thank you daddy for her flowers and for my roses! you are awesome:)

i love getting the kids treats- here they are waiting to open their valentines surprises from mommy and daddy!
oh and you can kind of see our new bed. it is massive and super cozy and i love it! wow!

after getting the sticky suckers out of hair and chocolate chip pancakes off their faces (i attempted heart shaped ones- not real successful though) and telling them absolutely no more candy including the super huge hershey kisses that they are dying to consume- i got the crew to sport their valentines super hero tees and pose for a pic! they love them! (especially braxton)

sending love to all!

happy valentines day!

because I have the fever...

i have spring fever. i have loved these warm days. don't guess you can count today since you can't enjoy the warm for the wind but... still, i have the fever. hurry up warm weather.

this pic is from nonni and poppi's sunflower field summer '07. i hope they do it again this year. it is amazing!

here's to feelin' the warm sunshine on your face real soon!

joy

what brings him the most joy these days...

no, he doesn't get to drive it in the house. just sit on it. and that's really all he cares about. the battery is pretty much dead. so, he just pretends. i have definitely mellowed out with kid # 3. in the past i would have never let a broken and very dirty tractor from the garage sit in my den but... hey, whatever makes him happy and gives me a moment to get something done.

answered prayers

after much anticipation, several false alarms, and many prayers this little man entered the world a bit over 3 weeks early but perfectly healthy!




his name is Tucker and he is an absolutely, perfectly precious 6 lb baby boy. I am proud to once again have a nephew (you see I have no nieces- that is as of yet- i'm holding out that maybe this summer i'll have one of those too?! if not- no biggie- we'll just have our own ball team.)

here he is with his mommy (my sis- Hayley) and his big brother Tyler

and of course I had to get my hold in asap- but only after I had removed his hat and spiked his super soft dark hair!

Briley has yet to see him and is chomping at the bit to get her hands on him (oh- she's so much like her mommy!). she thought maybe she could miss school today to go for a visit but after finding out that was a negative she settled for heading up for a visit after school.

the boys are not so concerned. Imagine that.