Love my girls!

This little family of mine, you really know how to constantly win this mamas heart over and over and over again! I work hard at it everyday to make sure you know how much I love everything about you!
You also do a splendid job at making sure I know how much you love me as well!! This week has really been a struggle for me, but when I got home last night you and your daddy had me a little happy!! I'm so thankful you and daddy support my bad habits with chocolate!! This really made my day so much better

As I'm sure it made your day better as well! One thing I love most about you girls, we always have each others back and you give me all the more reason to keep my child like mentality! Madisyn, I always tell you how great of a big sister you are, and Braylee, you make having a little sister so much fun! I hope you girls always stay close and love each other unconditionally! There will never be 2 more girls who love you as much as your sister and I do (except maybe Nana and Gigi)

See what I mean when I tell you, we will always have each others back! Braylee, you should be thankful you have a family that gets down the way you do! You two are by far the cutest Hello Kitty's I've ever seen! How can you not be happy while looking at this picture and how can you possibly take me serious?  I often try to get on to you and you girls never know when you should take me serious...I really need to work on that!!

See what I mean when I say we always have each others back? You girls make my floppy hats so cute and so much fun! I've always wanted a reason to wear these hats, but never expected to have to, but they are cute and keep the sun away!! Bray, for some reason when you put my big floppy hat on you always think you have to say "Howdy Ya'll"...you have your sister and I rolling every time that comes out of your little southern mouth! You girls rock my world!

Madisyn, the way you thrive to learn more about the Bible melts my heart!

One of my favorite things we do together is our devotion. I learn just as much from you as you do from me. I hope you realize how great of an inspiration you are to me! We have recently started a mother/ daughter journal! I love writing to you because you always take everything to heart. I'm guilty of rushing everyday and not doing a devotion as much as I should, so I thought this may help us both! I also hope you cherish this journal as much as I do!

Your dad and I are trying really hard to make sure you know the true meaning of life.

By your feedback, I think you have a pretty good idea!

Apparently, I'm not the only one who wants to be like you when I grow up.. This is what Braylee said about her daddy

If you can't read the writing in the picture it says this
Braylee says this about daddy:
1. You are 3 feet tall
2. Your favorite color is red
3. Your favorite thing to do is play with her
4. She loves it most when you tickle her and hit yourself
5. You love mama most
6. When you grow up you want to be like Madisyn
7. What I know: You have three girls who love you more than anything

The one thing I love most about your daddy is this

I love love love finding his Bible like this! I pray just as hard for him as I do you girls! I'm so thankful for the wonderful daddy you girls have. My favorite thing about him is how perfect his imperfections are! One thing I know for sure, he is one of the strongest people I know! He inspires me just as much as you girls do!

 

Once again, I thank God every day for choosing me to be your mom and your daddy's wife.You three complete me, I love you more than you will ever know! Love you most!

 

Happy Happy Happy

I have so much to blog about since we have had so much excitement this past week so please excuse my rambling! My heart is overloaded with happiness! I always wait for my heart to be full of pure joy and happiness before I blog, that way you can get the same in return while reading it!!  Update on us, I start chemo cream for this horrific skin cancer I have going on disregard this massive red raw spot that will develop right dab in the middle of my eyes grrrrrr!! Finally, instead of continuously being cut on, if anymore basal cells develop, I will be referred to an oncologist ( I know that sounds awful, but it's really a relief for me, I'm completely over scars and keloids that come with them. Unfortunately, Robby still has an infection and is still at a stand still.. We definitely didn't get any progressing news for him like we hoped, but we do realize it's all in Gods timing! The doctor talked to us about worst case scenario and about waiting another 3-6 months to see if the infection would go away. It almost seems as if our hearts are numb to any information we get at the doctor, we no longer get excited or mad over any news. I have been praying that we can continue to rejoice in this trying time of our patience.. One of my favorite things to do is to go back in my Bible and see what I wrote beside a scripture.. Tonight at church, we were told to flip back in James, as I flipped back I saw where I had written Pepaw Gillilands name with the date of March 20,2013..It was beside James 1 verse 2-12.. James doesn't say if you face trials,but whenever you face them. He assumes that we will have trials and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, but to have a positive outlook (consider it pure joy)because of what trials can produce in our lives. James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough time can teach us perseverance . The very next day after I wrote this in my Bible pepaw passed..As I read this verse over and over again tonight I am still just as thankful..I thought to myself, how perfect for us. I was able to council myself with the verse all over again and it really helped me tie the knots that were left stranded!

Next, my surprise weekend trip was a huge success!! I was treated to my very first Extraordinary women's conference!! It was the absolute best thing I have ever experienced! I heard some powerful testimonies from Mrs Kay on Duck Dynasty and DJ Tanner from Full House. I also heard some wonderful praise music from Natalie Grant. Give thanks to The Lord for his love endures us forever! Whenever we got to our motel room they surprised me with a few happy's ..I love devotion books!

I'm not real sure what I have done to deserve such special friends, but I'm just as thankful for them as I am my own family (are they not the best ever)? 

I know you are going to fuss at me, but I love you anyways!

 

Are these not the most beautiful children ever? They are orphan children from all over the world who sing Christian music, called His Little Feet! They are the only ones I have ever met that giggled and laughed as much as me and Madisyn do! I learned so much from this conference! 

To my girls.... I missed being away from you and daddy. We had every intention of staying until Sunday, room paid for and all....thankfully my friends are just as big of babies as I am, and we came back home Saturday because we missed our husbands and kids so much!

Natalie Grant performed her new song,and I want you to know this is every bit of how I feel about you..word for word

Good night,

Looks like we made it through the day
The moon sighs and I know that we're okay
Sleep tight,
I love to watch you drift away
I would come with you but on my knees I'll stay
Good night
Five little fingers holding mine
Take flight
Into your dreams and lullabyes
There's nothing more that I can do
But just fall more in love with you
And ask the angel armies to stand by
When I leave the room
I'm gonna fail you
I already have
Ten thousand times
I will fall down flat
You'll have a seat in the front row
of everything I don't know
And all I'm trying to be
You'll see
Good night
There will be storms that we come through
In time
We will slay dragons me and you
I'll always wanna hold you tight
Keep you safe with all my might
So I will leave Jesus next to you
When I leave the room
And you will run ahead
As if you know the way
And I will pray more
Then once you'd have to pray
There will be words we can't take back
Silences too
And I'll be on my knees
You'll see
One night
When I am old and unsteady
You'll want me to fight
But I'll tell you that I'm ready
When there's nothing left to do
I will still be loving you
Then you'll fold your fingers into mine
And I will let Jesus hold you tight
When I leave the room! 

I love you girls so much and can not wait until you are old enough to go to this conference with me!

You bring so much joy and happiness into our little world! Braylee, you have finally got your hello kitty umbrella that you have been longing for .... It makes your heart so happy. Every night we tuck you into bed, you pursue to tuck in your hello kitty umbrella right beside you, on the pillow and under the covers

Look how beautiful you are! You are perfect in every way to us!

Madisyn, you are the best big sister ever! I know you will make sure Braylee is guided in the right direction and you will teach her everything you know! I'm so thankful to get this opportunity to one day give you this as a book! If there is one thing you girls learn from me, I hope it's to be a good Christian woman! The one thing I lacked as a child was a spiritual counselor! I often hear your GiGi talk about how her mom was a wonderful Christian lady.. She always refers back to what her mom would do or how her mom would tell her what the Christian thing to say was... I never met your great grandmother, but I can tell you,I hope to be half the woman she was!

Finally, Haisten arrived!!!! Just let me tell you, this poor little soul does not realize how many hearts he has wrapped around his sweet little finger...he is absolutely perfect! I am so proud of Katie and Daniel!! They are amazing parents, it's such a blessing to watch a family grow! We have so much to be thankful for ..look how happy your aunt T and Uncle R are!!!!!

Madisyn, you are the best cousin ever!! Your sweet little brown eyes just twinkle when you are holding him!! 

Braylee, this was your reaction while everyone was oohing over Haisten!! You do love him, and you are actually doing so much better than I thought you would!!

I love you all so much, and I am thankful for this blogging experience it is some great free therapy for me!!!! 

Toodles my little gymnast!!!!

 Our doctors appointment was canceled for this past Tuesday. Robby was scheduled to see the orthopedic surgeon, but the doctor decided he didn't need to see him since he has a bone infection. So, we will see the infectious disease doctor next Tuesday on the 22nd. It was a little discouraging to us that his appointment was cancelled but, what's another week right? I'm so thankful for the patience my husband has endured throughout this long journey. Believe it or not, this accident has made me have more respect for him than I thought I could ever have. It's amazing that after 5 years of marriage, I love him more and respect him more each day! My dream for our girls is to marry someone who is just as good as their daddy. He may not be able to physically work everyday as before, but he works more now for our family than he ever has( For this I'm thankful)! Thank you Robby for making me strive to become a better mama each day. It's tough keeping up with you!

Next, I absolutely love my Intentional Parenting book. It has several things I think we as parents should acknowledge more of and less of the negative going on in todays society. For the ones who are not reading this book, I'm happy to share some of my favorite points with you

• When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. ( 1 Corinthians 13:11-13)
• Like a mirror, the Bible exposes us and tells us the truth about ourselves
• Your family discipleship only ends when you die. You have a lifetime to cultivate truth in the hearts of your children.
• Even when they are adults with their own families, you should lovingly and prayerfully encourage your children in their walk with Jesus.
• Faith comes by hearing the gospel- the power of God for salvation to those who believe. By this, we know that the most loving act a parent can do for his child is to teach a biblical gospel in the home.

One of my purposes for reading this book then blogging about it is so when you girls get this book eventually you can always reflect back to it even when you become parents!

Braylee... we had a tea party last night, you made me call you Milley the mermaid, and I was Chubby the bear. You held your pinky out just right while sipping on your tea! Your little imagination goes way beyond measures.. One of my favorite things you say is "I love you all the way to the rainbow and fairies" I don't know how far that is but I trust it's a long ways away! You also showed me how you can sing like Ariel while we had our tea party..I laughed so hard and realized we really need to invest in some singing lessons! But, I love hearing your crackly untuned voice singing whatever you want, It makes my heart happy! You are so full of sass and personality!

 

 

 

My sweet Madisyn.... You tell me on a daily basis how crazy your family is! I'm not real sure why you think we are so silly, but do know,we love torturing you with our craziness!!  If I had to go one day without your silly constant giggles, I think I would die!! Even being sick and not being able to talk,you still manage to squeak your silly giggles out (I'm so ready for you to feel better soon) ! I love you girls and your daddy more than you will ever know which is why its going to be so hard for me to leave you this weekend

This weekend I'm going away for the first time ever without Robby and the girls. I must admit, I am so nervous about it! I really just don't think I need time away from you but my best friends seem to think so!! I have the sweetest most thoughtful friends ever! This weekend they are surprising me with a weekend getaway (paid for and no idea where I'm going)! I can never keep secrets like my husband, but I promise he has not told me where I'm going! My three best friends from high school went in and decided I need some time to simmer out everything that has happened with us the last year! So with the ok from Robby, we are headed out somewhere this Friday.. I can not wait to reminisce with these girls!!!What a blessing it is to have such wonderful friends, new and old!

I know Robby will take good care of our girls as he does every day! My only fear is that Haisten will try and come while I'm gone!
To my girls I love you more than you will ever know! I hope you learn from all of my parenting mistakes...It will only make you be that much better when you become a mom! Your dad and I have the best moms ever! I have to say I'm thankful for their downfalls with us, because we have learned from them just as you will do with us (see how beautiful your grandmothers are)

To my husband...I'm thankful for all your hard work for our family, I look forward to another day with you, because I know I'll love you more tomorrow than I do today!
To my best friends, I am so thankful for you!!!(Every visit they tried planning was interrupted by an accident, surgery, doctors appointment etc...)
Love you all!!!

Just a little piece of our life

We have spent the last couple of weeks trying to preoccupy our minds for our upcoming doctors appointments this Tuesday. You would think after a year it would gradually get easier to prepare for these appointments, unfortunately not. Please continue to pray for us and the doctors as we patiently wait for some news( we are willing to accept any news as long as its progress) Everyone says that no news is good news, but we are ready for whatever the Lord has in store for us. If there is one thing that has helped us along the way it's our guidance from the Lord and my prayer cross. 

This old wooden prayer cross was my Pepaw's. He fought a long hard battle of cancer. I was fortunate enough to be by his side every step of the way, and this is my favorite memory of him during his hard times. My pepaw was one of my best friends and biggest inspirations. I always thought I would never be able to let him go when the time came for him to go home, but I did it with joy! The most special man in my life was called home on my wedding day. People often think how horrible that is, but I look at it as the Lords way of allowing him to be with me on this day!! There is no amount of inheritance that could take the place of his prayer cross. I never thought I would be using it so frequent, but this wooden cross has become my best friend! Each surgery that we have, each pain we experience along the way, and each sigh of relief prayer we pray, our prayer cross is close to us...

We have started attending a family devotion on Thursday nights. It's my very first time to be a part of this with other families... I absolutely love it... It's amazing we had 21 parents and kids there.. I'm so excited to be a part of this and to learn more about being a better Christian, wife, and parent to my precious family.. Here is one of the books we are reading 

To my girls, We are doing our best to parent you and give you the guidance that will help you listen to us while you are young, and while we still have control over your little life! 

Braylee you had a super sweet moment the other night. It was night time, you were on my back and the first thing you say is " mommy look at the stars, I wish I were on a star because I would wish on it" I ask you what you would wish and you said " I would wish that my family will stay together forever and ever" bless your sweet little innocent heart!!!!  I'm assuming you got this from our nightly prayers.. There are two things I'm repetitive about when I say my prayers aloud with the girls each night..I always pray for a cure for cancer, and I pray for all the broken families to mend back together..  I love how innocent your little mind is. All of your terrible 4 moments can be washed away in a second.

Look how precious you are!!! I love every little feature about you !!

Also, your dad and I tried to get you to go to the state football game with us but you refused because you didn't want to wear a maroon bow...see how mentally challenged you make us...but we love everything about you!!  Your sister hopes to be a future bulldog cheerleader one day and I'm thinking she just may after seeing the way she cheered!

This sweet baby cheered her heart out!

My oldest little diva, I love this picture, because you favor your baby picture so much here..I love holding on to every piece of your baby years as long as I can..

Here too, sorry Madisyn but you still look like my little girl here!! When you have kids one day you will understand

You don't get many Madisyn days without your sister so I'm pretty sure you felt spoiled for a day or so!!

And then there is this.... You do not look like my little girl here. You look more like my beautiful young girl who will go far in life with your sweet heart! I don't expect you to become a doctor or marry a rich man.. I hope you always have the most sweet, tender,kind heart ,that you are carrying now...also, I hope you always laugh as much as you can with your loud,precious, obnoxious belly laugh that you have...this is what will make your dad and I proud!! My favorite verse to you is this one, I had painted on a canvas to hang in your room...it already reminds me so much of you 

See how fun you are, I mean seriously my life would be a complete bore without you sweet girls in it.. I thank God so much for giving your dad and I the opportunity to raise you and love you unconditionally!!! Love your biggest fan,mom!

Delight yourself in The Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4

   

    After I wrote about some of our testimony, I caught myself wondering,what am I  going to blog about next? I pray while reading my blog I can be an encouraging inspiration to you, as others have been to me!  Last night, we had "one of them nights", you know, the moment when something so special happens your mind is going in 30 different directions of excitement? Well, that was me last night! It's amazing to see God work in a child's life!! Madisyn came to us last night, and asked us to buy her something( she never ask us to buy her anything, so when she does I try my best to make it happen). She asked for a Bible, with her name engraved on it!!! Out of all the things a ten year old can ask for, she asked for a Bible! This melts my heart and makes me so happy knowing she is eager to learn more about the Bible. My emotions started to stir, and this is my thoughts on her a new Bible...It has to be perfect, what if I don't pick the best one for her, what if the Bible I choose is too advance for her? Moms, do you agree it's kind of like picking a groom for your daughter....It has to be perfect? After reading and searching for "the one" I have chosen this one

This Bible is for ages 11 and up. Not only does it already have notes in it, it helps answer questions that girls have about God and life. It also includes survival stories from older teens, Bible trivia, and introduces stories about the lives of famous women in the Bible. For younger girls, I highly recommend princess devotion Bible, It's great! This was Madisyns, now it is being passed to Braylee. Here is what it looks like 

 Children are a gift from God! Madisyn told me last night she wanted to start doing a video diary for  Braylee and give it to her when she  is older..she then said, mama there is really nothing going on in our life ( little does she know)There are so many things going on in the world that children are oblivious to.We, as parents do our best to try keep our kids safe and tucked under our wings. We cast all our worries to God so our kids never know there is a problem. Last night, during prayer time, I asked Madisyn ( since she is mature enough to ask for a Bible, I think she should know about some of the problems going on in the world today)  "If a person put a gun to your head, told you if you were a Christian he would kill you, what would your answer be?) she looked confused, stopped,and said well mama everyone should be a Christian so why would you be killed for answering yes? How innocent of a child to think everyone is a believer of Christ...I then proceeded  to inform her about what was going on in the world , that innocent Moms, dads, and kids were being killed by not denying Christ. One reason I told her this is so she would never deny Christ, no matter the circumstance, also, so she could pray and understand our prayers as we pray for this awful situation.

 ( ps all of my blogs will be turned into a hard back book as a gift to my girls)!!!!

so to my sweet girls here are a few pictures of the grooms you have chosen so far lol!!

 Are they not the cutest things ever????? Believe it or not these two sweethearts have been boyfriend/girlfriend over a year...Actually, Madisyn informed me aug 20 was a year(without ever breaking up) The good news is, they never talked to each other until summer of this year...

Mama and daddy sure hope this distance stays between ya'll for a very long time....Praise the Lord it was an act of congress to get them this close!

The only reason we are ok with this little fling is because we love his parents......and they keep him involved in so many sports he don't care about girlfriends (it just sounds good)....whatever, carry on

Last night Braylee told me she wanted to stay with me all day...I explained that I had to work( which by the way, I love my job)! She said no mama I love spending time with you, and daddy, because I love my family so much(I love my job, ) once again....I figured if I say this a thousand times in my head it will make it easier to leave her each day(I love my job)!

This little cutie in the middle is Braylee' s oldest boyfriend....She informed  us one time that her boyfriend kolby plays the drum, while she dances!!!!! She really does love kolby, he such a sweetheart and holds a special place in our hearts.He taught Madisyn how to ride her bike a few years ago!!! 

This is Braylee's youngest boyfriend, Cage. Is he not the cutest thing?..I tried explaining the whole two timing issue, she just hasn't caught on yet! 

Braylee, just so you know how special you are to us, your dad and I played rock, paper, scissors yesterday to see who would pick you up from Tons Tons....we both wanted to, it melts our hearts when you run up to us arms wide open! The only reason you are going to daycare is because its deer season, your daddy loves you so much and well I love my job.

Also, for some reason you want us to call you Chloe Instead of Braylee....This is your world we just live in it! 

You rode your scooter through the house Sunday night singing Shane & Shane, without you( The best song in the entire world) so I guess you were listening at church Sunday morning! 

To my girls... I love you more than you will ever know!! I can't wait to give this as a gift to you!

In conclusion Im thankful for my job (that I love)

I'm thankful for Wed night church service....without that service and Braylee going to her class on Wednesday nights I would be in serious trouble

I'm thankful to have a husband who is by my side on Wednesday nights service

I'm thankful for our church family whom we love dearly...This is from Katie's shower Sunday!

I'm thankful for my moms 47th birthday celebration

I'm thankful for a forgiving God

I'm thankful that my girls have the most awesome grandparents ever

I'm thankful for my nieces and nephews 

By the way , look at what I got Haisten

One more thing I'm thankful for is deer season

 

To my husband(Buseye)... Don't forget to surprise me with the crossbow I have been begging for..love opossum noodles!!!He is so going to give me a "Tiffany really" When he reads this part..

Love to you all, I'm not meaning to cross this out, I just can't figure out how to revert back to normal!