Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

This is the super yummy strawberry short cake chandler made for us to take our anniversary escape. She planned it, dad got all the supplies and she and went to a friends house to make it and surprise me with it. I am the luckiest mom!

14 years...where does the time go?

Well Chad and I are getting ready to celebrate our 14th anniversary. As I sit down to write this I am in total awe of Gods love and grace and provision. He sure knew what He was doing when I met Chad fifteen years ago at a high school party. I'm amazed at the way I love him...with a depth that I never knew was possible. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world and I pray that feeling only gets stronger as we get older. Happy Anniversary baby...here's to many more amazing years!

Thou shalt not LIE

Well, we've been dealing with one of those fun but tough issues as parents. How do you teach your kids not to lie?? I mean, they aren't even lying about big stuff...it's little, insignificant, no big deal stuff...that ends up turning into a BIG DEAL. IT's hard...and there's no "figure it all out" book for parents but here's a few things we are learning right now.
*teach them the age old addage that it's much easier if you tell the truth the first time
*make sure that they understand that there is no difference between what seems like a little lie and a BIG lie
*emphasize the reality that this family is built on trust and honesty and that is an area there is NO ROOM for compromise
*use the Word to reinforce the principle...but make sure they can personalize it and make it their own
*punishment must fit the crime and follow through is critical
*We must tell them we love them and encourage them when they "get it"

District Track Meet

Well, track season has officially ended...and officially begun, depending on how you look at it. Chandler competed in the District Track meet two weeks ago in Aledo. This is as far as they go on the middle school level so Chandler was geared up and READY. She ran the 2400 in 9:46 placing third behind two girls from Stephenville who are really fast. In the Mile she placed 4th with a time of 6:10. We were so proud of her determination and drive. She wasn't discouraged by third and fourth because both were RECORD BREAKING times for HALL MIDDLE SHOOL! It was on the WIDS website. The coolest part is that Chandler's best friend Emma also had two HALL MIDDLE SCHOOL records for long jump and triple jump. Here's a few pics from the day. The coolest part was immediately following her last run a coach from the Weatherford club track team approached her about running with them on a summer track team. Chandler is excited about this opportunity and ready to fully commit to track. If nothing else this will help her improve her form and times for cross country in the fall. Exciting things are coming!