The Fries'

Sunday, March 16, 2014

More Birthday Fun

This man, he turned 37 in January.

I am so thankful to spend my life with him.

We celebrated with dinner at Red Lobster followed by gifts and such at our home after.

Happy Birthday Babe.

Dashel was enjoying the festivities... You just want to squeeze him don't ya.

TJ got a some hunting stuff from Papa and Nanny.

Our friend Angela was visiting from Portland so she joined us in the celebration.

Such a ham.

Happy Birthday Boys!

He's 11...

I truly cannot believe the boy is 11. I mean seriously, how did that happen?

TJ is turning into such a wonderful young man and I am so thankful to champion him as he learns to be exactly what the Lord has created him to be.

Currently he believes he will either be a singer or a farmer.

He loves Lego, hunting with dad, being outside, playing his kindle, and spending time with anyone really. He wakes early every morning asking to spend time in God's Word, followed closely by a big breakfast, followed by snack, followed by lunch, followed by snack, followed by dinner. :) He is growing so much, he currently is in a size 9 men's shoe and will tell anyone he meets about it. He is such a social kid! He cannot wait to be in the 6th grade so he can be in youth group at church and serve in the church nursery. He is a self proclaimed "baby whisperer" and consistently asks us to have another baby, so he can have a brother. He is funny, quick to forgive and loves his family. I am truly thankful to have a sideline view of what will become of this boy. I pray he draws near to the Lord and is consistently growing in his faith. I pray he understands what it means to love, to be compassionate and to be an ardent defender of people. I pray he marries a woman who loves the Lord and knows compassion and grace.

We bought him this sweatshirt and he wears it nearly everyday.

Or he would if I didn't make him take it off to wash it.

Avarie wanted so badly to make TJ a scavenger hunt for his birthday present from her...she spent a bunch of time creating it and then hiding his presents.

For his birthday we had planned a HUGE hunting trip to South Dakota with Dad. In the last week (March) we discovered he cannot go, as you have to be 12 to hunt in S. Dakota. Tim prayed about it and felt that we would have to back out of the hunt, unfortunately. So hopefully next year that will happen. He is super disappointed, but law is the law. So for his actual birthday he had Jase come over to watch Star Wars and play video games. The perfect birthday for any 11 year old.

We love you Timothy David.

Stickers....

It's one place to put stickers....

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Out with the Old

I found these great free printables on Ann Voskamp's blog.

So I walked through 2013 with the children.

Preparing for a New Year

As I contemplate 2013 (what?!? How are we already done with 2013), and get ready for a new year I think of the word that most describes 2013 and it would have to be change. Nothing major changed, we didn't move, we didn't have another child, we didn't change careers, and yet I feel like so much has changed. Within me.

Why? Why do I feel so different? I have read a lot this year, I have listened a lot this year, and I have tried, by God's grace to grow a lot this year. Many convictions that I did not previously hold grabbed a hold of my heart. God brought new and amazing friends into our life that we weren't expecting. God has led us into community, several actually, and they all pull me and sometimes push me into who God has created me to be. I see sin more evidently and I EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. fail miserably. And yet, His grace, His mercy, it sustains me. It completes me. It directs me. And I am thankful.

So this year, as I look ahead, Diligence is the word I pray. Diligence is the word I seek. Diligence is the word that will continue to lead me to Freedom. And by God's grace, I will follow through, I will be diligent, I will watch as the Lord molds me into who He has created me to be.