I don't have a lot of words right now.  We just found out that one of our sweet friends, who has been fighting cancer for over a year, did not respond well to his last treatment.  He has already gone through all the "regular" treatments, and this was an experimental treatment.  He and his wife are now at home...spending sweet time together, with friends and with the Lord.

This is so hard to wrap my head around.  These are amazing people who love the Lord and have devoted themselves to serving Him.  They have been such an inspiration over the last year and a half.  I cannot even begin to imagine all of the emotions they are feeling.

Please pray for them...Mike and Cabell Sweeney.  And visit their caringbridge site, if you feel led.  They are an amazing couple, and I know the Lord will continue to use them, even through the unimaginable.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikesweeney/journal

Where do they get it?

So, most of the time I don't realize that I say certain things a lot until I realize that my kids are saying them, too.  For example, Liam's favorite thing to say is, "that's annoying".  He came inside the house from playing the other day to tell us that the train he just heard was "annoying".  If a dog barks, a horn honks, the radio is playing, justabout anything...well,that is annoying...to Liam.

He also says, "Oh Man!" a lot, and I do not say that.  We're blaming that one on swiper the fox.

Proud of myself!

So, I have no sewing skills.  I wish that I did, and I feel as though I should have them.  I grew up sewing.  My grandmother and I spent hours sewing clothes for me and my cabbage patch kids when I was younger (this is what happens when you have no siblings...you wear matching outfits with your cabbage patch kids).  But, none of it stuck, and I have no sewing skills today.  It might be that I don't have much confidence when it comes to a lot of that stuff and that my sewing machine (circa 1970) started smoking the last time I used it.

But I did make this shirt for emma's birthday.  Well, not the shirt, but I did put the "5" on it.  Yes, it was very easy...but I'm still pretty proud of myself.  

There are two things I would do if I had more time...sewing classes and photography classes.  Two things I wish I knew more about.  Maybe one day.  Until then...I guess I'll just be handstitching numbers on shirts!

We also had a great time celebrating Emma's birthday with a gymnastics party.  Great friends, great cake, great day!

Emma is 5!!

Emma is 5 today!  I can hardly believe it.  She is turning into such an amazing little girl.  She is so helpful, loves her brother and family and loves to be silly.  And she has taught me so much about how to be a Mom (makes me appreciate my Mom even more).

So, here's to you, Emma.  Happy Birthday!

Five things I love about Emma on her 5th birthday:

1. She is pure silliness, all of the time (as you can see)

2. She loves hugs.  

3. She is full of compassion

4. She lights up when her Daddy walks into the room.

5. She loves to help with just about anything.