Melissa & Brian's Wedding

My cousin, Melissa, was married yesterday. Claire had the honor of being their flower girl. Here are a few pics of my beautiful girl and the wedding day. I cried a few times thinking about how soon my little girl may have her own wedding day. I try not to think about it too much, but I'm sure the years will fly by.


Getting Dressed and Twirling Around...








Bubbles!...




My Sisters and I...




Sunflower for the Flower Girl...




Claire's Pomander...




Father-Daughter Dance...




Mother-Son Dance...




Cutting the Cake...




My Aunt Cathy (Mother of the Bride) Dancing with Claire...




Everything was all so beautiful yesterday. Claire and I were honored to be a part of such a beautiful and special day of Melissa and Brian's life. We pray God's blessings upon your marriage and new lives together!

Claire's Story Time

The other day, I was busy doing something, and I walked into the living room to find Claire sitting in her rocking chair, and "Wasabi" (the green frog you see in the video) listening to a story. Claire set it all up herself. She is reading The Barnyard Dance, one of her favorites!

Three Blessed Years

My beautiful little Claire Bear is three years old tomorrow. It's so hard to believe! The past three years have been filled with joyful as well as sorrowful times, but through it all, God has never ceased to be faithful to Claire and I. I thank him everyday for this wonderful gift he has given me - a beautiful daughter. But as I thank him for this gift, it reminds me of the greatest gift he has given me. His only son. When I think about how much I treasure Claire, it's so difficult to understand how God would give up his only son to die for a sinner like me, so he could rescue me from my sin and call me his daughter. This is the most precious gift - his son. And to top it all off, he has also blessed me with my Claire Bear!


Here are just a few pictures of the past three years...

The first few hours...



The first few weeks...





One year old (yes, she's playing inside the toybox)...



Two years old...



Three years old!!...




Happy Birthday, Claire!

Playdough Celebration!

Claire LOVES Playdough!! Today, we had what I'll call a Playdough Celebration. Let me explain.... Since May, Claire has not been sleeping well - getting up numerous times after I initially put her to bed, getting up 3-5 times in the middle of the night every night, then waking up earlier than ever before. Needless to say, it's been a trying experience for me. Anyway, when I discovered how much she loves playdough, I decided to save it as a reward for when she does a good job staying in her bed. Last night, she had a GREAT night, so we celebrated this morning with PLAYDOUGH!!


This was her first reaction...



Here are a few pictures of my little sculptor at work...

Stone Harbor Vacation

As I wrote in my last post, my family went to Stone Harbor, NJ for a week's vacation in the beginning of August. Here are a few highlights from our vacation...

Chillin' in the pool (thanks to Gabi & Isabella who let us borrow their swimming pool for the week)


Luke & Sara in the pool with Claire


Having lunch with a friend (Claire & Sara)



We walked on the beach one day to find an enormous pile of sand and tons of people working to build a sand village


Then we made our own sand village

Watching the guys play ladder golf (thanks to Erica & Tim who brought this really fun game)

It's the kids' turn!

Enjoying a cup of "Cookie Monster" ice cream (thankfully, it came out in the wash!)

Summer Update

We've been strangers again...sorry about that. It's been a crazy summer with travel, all sorts of activities, and not much sleep in between. Here is a little update on what we've been up to since my last post. First, Claire seems to really enjoy wearing shower caps around the house. Here are a few pictures.












Also, my niece, Isabella, turned 3 July 9th. Yeah, Isabella! Here are some pictures from her fun birthday party.




















Claire went to Bible School at Mimi and Pap's church in mid-July. The theme was Rain forest Adventure. Here is a picture of Claire with a rain forest bird mask that she made. She wanted to wear it constantly!







I was so blessed to go to the beach over the weekend in late July with some close friends and without kids. Thanks to all of the daddies for making that weekend possible! We were actually able to take long walks on the beach, talk without interruptions, sit, relax, and read on the beach. These things just don't happen with kids around. We all love our little ones dearly, and we were all happy to see them again when we got home, but it was refreshing to get some time away, encourage one another in the faith, and prepare our hearts for the tasks that awaited us at home.



Well, that's about it for now. Claire and I just got back from another beach trip Friday night, so I'll devote the next few posts to that trip. Bye for now!

Allie & Claire's Trip to Railroad

Claire and I went to Railroad, PA to visit my sister, Stacy, and her boyfriend, Jimmy. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and went to the New Freedom Carnival in the evening. We feasted on carnival food (Claire's favorite - funnel cake!) and played lots of games (won lots of prizes). We thought Claire might ride one or two rides, but she was more interested in the sliding board at the playground instead.



Look Ma, no hands!



Stacy and Claire...



Jimmy and Claire Goin' Fishin'...



Claire using her charm to convince Stacy that the little slide is better than the big one...




After breakfast Friday morning, we went for a walk on the Heritage Rail Trail County Park trail which runs right by their house. We saw a deer cross the trail while we were walking, and we found, picked, and ate some wild black raspberries. It was a great way to spend the morning.



Claire on the train tracks...



A fellow rail trail walker...



Jumping Bean...




Thanks, Stacy and Jimmy, for having us!! It was great to be with you!

Furry Friend

Karma, my sister's bullmastiff, joined us for the week while my sister went on vacation. It has been interesting, to say the least. I'm not really a dog person, and although I get along fine with Karma, I don't think this week has changed my mind. (Sorry, Erica.) Claire likes Karma, but she's a little afraid (which is no suprise considering Karma's size), and she often says, "I like when Karma's in her crate." It's been an adventure!!

On another note, here is a picture of Claire with her favorite juice - Big Bird Juice!

We Miss You, Laura!

Last Friday my good friend, Laura, moved from our area back up to New England to be closer to her family. Claire and I miss her already. She has been a faithful friend to me, encouraging me in my faith and in my walk with God. We will keep her in our prayers as she starts this new chapter in her life. We're REALLY excited to go and visit her in September!!

Streams of Mercy

From Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, July 1 Morning Meditation...

"In summer and in winter shall it be."—Zechariah 14:8.

The streams of living water which flow from Jerusalem are not dried up by the parching heats of sultry midsummer any more than they were frozen by the cold winds of blustering winter. Rejoice, O my soul, that thou art spared to testify of the faithfulness of the Lord. The seasons change and thou changest, but thy Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad and as full as ever. The heats of business cares and scorching trials make me need the cooling influences of the river of His grace; I may go at once and drink to the full from the inexhaustible fountain, for in summer and in winter it pours forth its flood. The upper springs are never scanty, and blessed be the name of the Lord, the nether springs cannot fail either. Elijah found Cherith dry up, but Jehovah was still the same God of providence. Job said his brethren were like deceitful brooks, but he found his God an overflowing river of consolation. The Nile is the great confidence of Egypt, but its floods are variable; our Lord is evermore the same. By turning the course of the Euphrates, Cyrus took the city of Babylon, but no power, human or infernal, can divert the current of divine grace. The tracks of ancient rivers have been found all dry and desolate, but the streams which take their rise on the mountains of divine sovereignty and infinite love shall ever be full to the brim. Generations melt away, but the course of grace is unaltered. The river of God may sing with greater truth than the brook in the poem—


"Men may come, and men may go,
But I go on for ever."

How happy art thou, my soul, to be led beside such still waters! never wander to other streams, lest thou hear the Lord's rebuke, "What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt to drink of the muddy river?"