DISNEYLAND SURPRISE

Mady and I had to go see her nutritionist up in LA, gosh it's almost been a month ago. Anyhow, the visit went well, mostly ALL of the damages from the antibotics she was on have been cleared up. She is doing much better overall and still has been infection free since she started the supplements with no antibotics, PRAISE GOD! Well when we finished the doctors appointment it was like 10:30 in the morning and I called Jim and he said to take her and do something special with her. I had been promising to take her to Disneyland when she was finished with drinking all her smoothies. So... I surprised her and we wnt to DISNEYLAND for a Mommy, daughter day. I didn't tell her until we were in the parking lot. We were riding on the tram over to the park, and she just keep looking at me saying, " Mommy are we really going to DISNEYLAND!" When she saw the entrance to the park, SHe was floored with excitment, "Mommy we are here!", her next thought turned towards the princesses, " Do you think I'll meet Cinderella this time?" Well... let's just say dreams do come true at Disney... it was such an awesome gift to get to spend the day with my little princess.

Anyone want to join me? This is an annual bluegrass festival at the end of August. This will be my first year going but from the pictures it looks like a great family festival atmosphere. Mady and I are going to kick up our heels and we invite all our friends to come along and dance the day away with us!

Alkire Family Photo

Here is Jim's side of the family, Jim's sister Beth with her husband Matt, and her three kids, Jeremy, Josh and Katilyn. Jim's parents and us with our little ones. It was really great to spend time with them and get to know them better. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great group of folks. Thanks Beth for being so loving with my Mady and Aslan. And Katilyn, for playing and doing crafts with Mady and for just letting her hang out with you. She really loved being with you, you are a wonderful young lady and I can't wait to see how you will blosom in the years to come. And Matt, thanks for all of your hard work with the party, you did all the man chores I asked of you without complaining, I can see God's mark of humility on your life. And of course Mom and Dad, it was so good to see you and just be with you guys, and thanks for all the toys for the kids. Let's do it again next year!!

50 Years

My husbands parents celebrated their 5oth wedding anniversary while we were back east. Actually that is the main reason that we went home was to throw them a party to celebrate. The whole day was such a blessing from start to finish. We had a big white catering tent sent up, we hired a bluegrass band, it was catered to make life easy for us. We had all the white lights and white linens on the round tables with colorful centerpieces and candles. They were calling for thunderstorms that evening, around 2 o'clock we heard a rumble and Beth(Jim's sister) and I prayed aloud as we heard it rumble. And God heard our prayers, it turned out to be a beautiful night. Everything went so smoothly... the best part of the night was when Jim's parents got up and honored each other. Their words were so sweet and heart felt, and so full of the gospel. God's grace is truly sufficient, he is so faithful to give them such a loving marriage. I am a beneficiary of their love for the Lord and their love for each other. I get to spend my life with their son and get to receive their input and wisdom passed to him. I am so grateful for them and for raising their son to be a man of God. Here are some pictures of Jim's parents dancing the night away... I loved watching them enjoy themselves, they are so cute!

Cousins

How sweet it is to be joined to another by blood. There is a sense of sameness, it brings a closness that cannot be found with others. The feeling that you are chosen to be a part of this family and no other. You don't need time to warm up to each other, you don't feel the need to hide who you are, you just are who you are and you are loved for that person. Such is the case with Mady and Christian, here they are enjoying their time together. Parting is such sweet sorrow....

Happy Father's Day

To our Daddy,

There are many moments that make up a lifetime but only a few that make up a childhood. Thank you Daddy for always being just as excited to see us as we are to see you at the end of the day. Thank you Daddy for being a man who's heart is for the Lord, who leads us to a knowledge of our Savior. Thank you Daddy that His spirit that was placed in you draws all of our hearts closer to him by your example. Thank you Daddy for working so hard for our family. Thank you daddy that our family comes first in your life. Thank you daddy for playing superman, pillow time, Ready Set Go, Chase around the patio, and for teaching me how to ride a bike. Thank you Daddy that you never grow tired of repeating the same answer to me even when I have asked you the same question before. Thank you for the way that you dance with me and pretend to be my prince. Thank you the way you wrestle with me and let me climb all over your back and front and every limb that you have. Thank you for believing in me and believing in the promises that God has for my life. Thank you for being there for all of my moments and not wanting to be anywhere else. We know this, we sense this, every time we look in your eyes, we know how much you adore us and we hope that today you know how much we adore you and how much we love our Daddy.

I'm Back

I have been disconnected from my blog for awhile. I was out of town visitng my family back east. It was great seeing my family, especially my sister and her two boys( our kids are the same ages). I loved watching the cousins play and laugh and beat each other up, it truly made my heart swell with joy. It seemed like we had just settled in and it was time to head back home.
We spent the first part of the trip at Jim's parents house for their 50th wedding anniversary. We threw them a party the was straight off the pages of the Great Gatsby, it truly was that magnificient. It was hard to leave them as well, Mady loved playing with her BIG cousins as well.
I will be posting pictures and stories from my time away... just to play a little catch up. As there were many memorable moments I want to record. My DSL has been very fickle since I have returned home, that's why I haven't posted until now. So hopefully it won't be long before another post, my apologiies to those who have been waiting.