HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope your new year brings you as many smiles as these kids bring me!

Life with Josh

Josh keeps us in stitches all the time. Here are a few of his latest quips:

• We're driving the other day & Shawn decides he's Mario Andretti. He quickly speeds past other cars as we leave the stoplight & declares that we're "burning rubber." Josh, upon hearing this begins to laugh & replies incredulously: "We drive a Mini-Van. We can't burn rubber." From the mouths of babes.


• This morning at family devotional we're reviewing our family motto: "We're the Dunns & we: Love God, Hold family dear, full of fun, loving others & fighting fear." After we say all say it (too loudly for my morning preference) Shawn is reviewing what it means and asks Josh what it means to "hold family dear" and Josh replies: "It's like when you have a deer and you hold it." So there you go.


• Josh & Emily were with me at the church while I was making some copies. Josh is very tactile & LOVES to touch things. So as we're walking past the cubicles I can see the desire to touch EVERYTHING trying to overcome him, so I wisely advise him not to touch anything. His response: I can touch the floor. Wise guy!

Jesus in Joshy's Heart

This morning as I was spending time with Jesus I heard Annie leading Josh in a prayer. I smiled to myself & thought "how cute!". Little did I know it was THE prayer that would change Josh's life forever! Quickly after they said "Amen." they ran into the living room & proudly declared that Josh asked Jesus into his heart. I investigated to see what that meant & he understood what he did.
I am one proud Mama for many reasons. My son gave his life to Jesus today. My daughter led someone, her brother, to Christ. The things I desire MOST for my kids is that they'll follow Jesus forever. And not just the "I'm a Christian" label so many sport, but a real, growing, life & world impacting RELATIONSHIP with Jesus---the ONLY one who will ever make us truly happy and secure.
After we talked about what he just did, Josh expressed himself in true Josh form----he grabbed my neck, squeezed really hard & said "I already feel so happy!".

4 Orphans Helped

The results are in from all of the lemon-aid stands kids from our church held last week. All together the children of our church (preschool-6th grade) raised $630 dollars....enough to finance 4 orphans in Cambodia be placed in loving Cambodian homes! It was truly a rewarding experience for our family to be a part of this. It also was encouraging to see the families in our church work together on such a noble thing! We are truly blessed!

Tootin' My Own Horn

I'm venturing into the world of cake decorating. Most of the time the creations I see in my head do NOT turn out to be the creations I actually make. Usually they end up like Emily's barney birthday cake--where barney ended up looking like he had cookie-monster's head.

But this weekend was different. I hosted a bridal shower for a young lady at church this weekend & made the cake. It actually came out better than I planned. So celebrate with me!

Lemon-Aid

Our church is learning about the poor & broken in our world this month. We're learning that there are over 1 MILLION orphans in the world and many others are traffiked for terrible purposes. The hope is that JESUS cares for these broken children...even has a special place for them. He promises to put the lonely in families.

Because we want to care for the things God cares for Shawn challenged the kids of our church to hold LEMON-AID stands this weekend where all of the proceeds will go to help orphans in Cambodia be placed in loving Cambodian homes. It only costs $150 to see a child placed into a family, so our church's goal was to help 3 children.

The kids all brought thier offerings to church today & we'll find out this week how many children were helped. As a family, our kids raised $31.05 in just 1 hour!

We are working with an organization called "Children in Families" and we know one of the case workers. Bethany will be able to send us pictures of the children we help, so our kids will really be able to see the fruit of their labor.
As sad as the situation is, I am so thankful we attend a church that encourages Adults & kids, whole families even, to not just be sad for people, but to TAKE ACTION and help. Not because it's their civic duty, but because JESUS cares for the orphans. My kids know they can help NOW--not just when they're grown up. Lord, let this truth be written on our hearts & our lives changed forever!

Snaggle-Tooth Annie

Annie lost her first tooth last week. It had been a very "wiggly-jiggly loose tooth" for about 2 weeks & she finally pulled it on Friday at school. She proudly displayed her new snaggle-tooth grin when I picked her up from school. She was going camping with Dad & the 5th & 6th graders from church Friday night, so the "tooth-parent" was able to slip $1 under her pillow in the tent! Unfortunately her tooth found it's final resting place somewhere around the campsite.

Carrot Shooter

At dinner a few nights ago Emily was eating matchstick carrots. They're much easier for her to eat and she also learned they are the perfect size for shoving.....up her nose!
She discovered this by gently sticking one little carrot up her nose and we quickly redirected her with a firm No-No and brief explanation that carrots are for eating, not shoving in your nose. A few minutes later we heard Emily's sweet voice say, "Oh No! Uh-oh! Nose!" I looked over at her as she was pointing to her nose with a very concerned look on her face. As I was trying to figure out what had happened she got that 'I need to sneeze' look on her face. Then she sneezed 3 times with a small matchstick carrot shooting out of her nose on the 3rd sneeze. Guess we'll put that on her resume some day!

Sister Prescriptions

So we're driving home from picking Annie up from school today & Josh is being his typical boy self.....making some kind of noise over & over again. As we're all enduring this noise Annie asks me the following question, as serious as she could be:
"Mom, do you have any chill pills?"
If only I did!

Pumpkin Patch

A church here in town sets up a little pumpkin patch on thier front lawn each October. It's really a fun way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon. So we packed up the kids last weekend and headed out to pick up a pumpkin to carve! It was so fun to play among the pumpkins in search of the perfect one. Emily was the first to find an Emily-sized pumpkin that she carried around for 2 days straight (by the stem) and saying over and over "punkey".

Happy Birthday Emily

Our Sweet Emily just turned 2 on October 17! I cannot believe she's 2 already. She is such a delight. We had a sweet time celebrating her with Nana & Papa, Shawn's parents.

As a 2 year old Emily has learned so much already. She's talking really well.....says lots of things but especially "I do it!" "I run!" (which is followed by a loud scream & a waddle/run....it's really cute!). And her favorite word remains "MOMMY!" She thinks she's as old as Josh & Annie and is quite adventurous....not afraid to try anything. She's also a scrapper...she can rumble withthe best of them. She loves to dance & it's amazing to watch her light up when worship music comes on. Before she was born we had several people independently pray for Emily and they got the same picture.....Emily was standing on a mountain, worshipping Jesus by twirling around. And that is exactly what she does already. When the music comes on she starts twirling....I LOVE IT. Emily means "Diligent" and Elizabeth means "devoted to God" so our prayer for her is that she'll be diligently devoted to God. Let it be Lord!

The Apple doesn't fall far

So it's a rainy day here in Waco. Fortunately Annie is home from school today & Josh has a playmate.

The result of their playing came parading out of the toy room right after lunch today. Josh strutted out yelling, "Moo!" Which was immediately followed by peals of laughter. What a rainy day!

I wonder where they learned such shenanigans?!!

Finally, A Win

Shawn has been playing soccer for 3 seasons now in an adult league here in town. The past 2 years of him playing have made me respect my husband & made me realize how much he loves the sport. Why you might ask? Because he's played for 3 seasons & they have yet to win a game (that would've made me hang my soccer hat up). But he & his team have persevered. AND THEY WON last Saturday! I was so excited for him & the fellas that play for WACO FIRE! What made this game even sweeter for me was watching him make a header into the goal & score one of the team's 4 points! We were sitting right next to the goal & it was soo cool to watch. It seemed like it was in slow motion as the ball went up into the air, landed on his head & then was directed into the goal! SO COOL. I was so proud! AND his parents got to be there to see him!

I always wanted to be a soccer mom....glad I get to be a soccer wife too!

Soccer Stars

Soccer season has begun & Josh is playing at Woodway Family Center. Shawn is his coach & they're loving it. So far we've played 2 games & are undefeated, although we're "not keeping score". YEAH RIGHT!









Some highlights:

• Josh initially called Shawn his "crew chief" instead of coach. I really think we're NASCAR bound.


• Some friends of ours live near the soccer fields & they tell us they can hear Shawn as he coaches these little guys. They do say he's very encouraging as he's yelling!
• Annie has started a snail collection--don't you know I LOVE that!
• Emily got her first black eye when she was pelted in the face by a soccer ball.

Pursuit of Contentment

I was reading in Ecclesiastes yesterday. I know...not a book in the Bible for a normal devotional read. But God had a plan. I think as I look around at the things I have or do not have my heart can grow restless. I think if I had a greener, more manicured yard or a bigger, better decorated & cleaner house or you name it, then I'd be happy and have true peace in life. Then I read Ecclesiastes and truly realize NOTHING is new under the sun. Solomon, the wisest and richest king in the Bible learned this thru failing too. He had the best of everything and landed on GOD being the place of true satisfaction and contentment. He learned that trends come and go, desires change and needs stay unmet. But JESUS never changes. He ALWAYS provides and COMPLETELY satisfies.
Thank you LORD for speaking to me thru what I thought was a "random" devotional read. Thank you LORD for knowing what I need and drawing me into you and for COMPELETLY satisfying me. Normal life is meaningless, but you give real, satisfying and abundant life!

Sweet Talker

Recent Conversation with my sweet Josh:

Mom: "Hi handsome"


Josh: "Hi beautiful"

Be still my heart!

School Is In Session

Annie started 1st grade last week. It's a big deal for her to be gone all day. She loves it, I kinda love it and Josh misses her like crazy. Her teacher is Ms. May. She goes to our church and there are also 5 other kids from church in her class as well. It's really fun to hear her tell me about the day on the drive home. She seems so grown up!

When I picked her up from school on the first day I asked her if she had a good day. She quickly replied, "No!" and my heart sank. She then interjected, "It was a GRREAT day!" Music to my ears.

The Voice of God

My sweet Annie girl has been hearing the voice of God today and seeing him move in her life! It started with a battle of milk this morning. She really wanted chocolate milk, but we insisted she drink all of her "snowman milk", or white milk, or she wouldn't be allowed to get up from the table. After about 10 minutes she announced, "Mom, I prayed that God would help me drink all of my milk & he said he would!" In less than 5 minutes she had completely drank all of her milk and was free to play. Later this afternoon, while coloring in the toy room she came out and announced that God had asked her if she would obey him and she said yes! She said she would be His servant and go wherever he asked...even to another country! I quickly encouraged her that obeying Jesus is all he asks of us and that we show God how much we love him by obeying.

A little later, I was changing Emily's poopy diaper and Annie announced yet again that God answered her prayer. She said she prayed that the diaper wouldn't stink and it didn't! (I can attest to this as well...it didn't smell). She quickly declared that, "THIS PRAYING STUFF WORKS!"

Lord, let her faith continue to rise!

Toddler Ingenuity

So I'm sitting in the living room, folding laundry when I notice I hear the sound of water running/spilling in the kitchen. I immediately call Emily's name as I go into the kitchen to discover that she's trying to get water from the refrigerator door, all by herself. She has the cup jammed between the water dispenser and the ice dispenser just so that the water is continually pouring, although it's missing the cup and going all over the kitchen floor. Emily's hair is soaked and she is all smiles. Their is so much water all over the tile that she keeps slipping, but the smile never leaves her face. She was so proud of doing it by herself. It took 3 towels to soak up all the water. Fortunately today is laundry day.

We had a great time on our family vacation to Destin, FL! Granny & Papa treated us & my brother's family to a wonderful week on the Emerald Coast. It was amazing. The water was CRYSTAL clear, there were no jelly fish & the weather was perfect. It was supposed to rain everyday, but God held it off so we could enjoy the ocean. The kids had a blast playing in the sand and were BRAVE as they swam in the sea....riding the waves and all. Shawn got to ride a jet ski & I got some time by myself under an umbrella with a good book & a Dr. Pepper. Is there anything better than this?

Helping husbands

you know....I'm learning that when my husband needs my help, my nagger wants to come out instead of my helper. what is it with women. but today was different. i helped him. without a nag, without a complaint. the problem wasn't solved but he felt supported, which was a huge victory in itself. lord, help me to have more days like this. And help him to find his iphone!

Learning How

So I am officially a blogger! I've gone to the dark side for real. First it was facebook. Now it's blogging. What's the world coming to? Kristi & Ashley inspired me. Sara nagged me til I had no choice. I'm not promising anything....but at least I've started.