Fun friends and Quelf!

Back in November our dear friends the Riccio's and Bentley's joined us for dinner and games to celebrate my birthday and now we are carrying it on for all of our birthdays. This past Friday we celebrated Nathan's birthday at the Yard House. Every time we go to take a group shot the boys make silly faces so this night we girls decided we would join em. The guys thought we were pretty funny! (which we are) :)
Quelf.... my new favorite board game. It is a riot. Everyone that plays gets to act like a kid again. Here Lisa had to make a fort and play from it one full round.
Here, Dan had to hold his fingers on the board and Jay and Nathan had to keep their arms around each other as they played. The rest of us had to do silly things too. The 6 of us laughed so hard it hurt. I highly recommend this game to any game lovers out there, it's so fun!! Thank you God for friends who love you and enjoy a good meal and great game! We are blessed!

The latest

We surprised daddy for Father's Day with an outdoor room that he had mentioned he'd really like to have. Daddy loves it and we all are enjoying our time outside together in our new space. :) We have an eating area under the patio too! So fun!
We have had LOTS of play dates at our house the past few weeks. This day Layah, Ella and Olivia came over. Tons of creativity amongst the chilins' and it usually involves the water in one way or another.
Our newest friend Owen Tucker was born May 12th and made a visit to our house last week. Caleb calls him "uncle owen" from Star Wars and as you can see from this pic is pretty excited about him.
I also got to go on a Women's retreat the first weekend of June in Prescott and had a WONDERFUL time! (and the boys had a fun guys weekend while I was gone.)

My girlfriends.... Shante, Cira, Lisa, Ellesse, Christy, Allison, and myself. :) Christy and Allison are both due in August so more little ones to love on pretty soon, we are so excited!

We are presently in the middle of VBS and having a great time! We have play dates lined up all next week and then the following Wed we will head back up to Show Low and this time we get to take Daddy. Our summer is already flying by!

Thank you God for family, friends, places to escape the heat, and a joy that can only come from you!

A whole new adventure!

We just got back from Show Low and had a great time. This time we all took on a new adventure! Mom and Dad bought a canoe...here you see Dad, Kels and Jamus. We all took turns going out on the lake.
While we would wait for our next turn there were plenty of fun rocks to climb.....
Moments to cuddle and relax under the pine trees and
get suited up for the next venture out! We did learn that it doesn't work well to try and paddle when the wind is gusting like crazy, but all in all we had a fun time. Good idea grandma and grandpa!

Thankfulness

I haven't been able to post pictures because my camera broke. So, I recognize I have 2 choices...1. grumble and complain that I haven't been able to capture moments since Easter or 2. be grateful my warranty covered the break and in a few days I will be snapping away again...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 God says, "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." There are many other scripture verses that also talk about giving thanks, and rejoicing in all things. Being thankful is easy to do when things are going your way, or something fun or exciting is happening. It's easy to be thankful when your child has learned something you have been teaching or your husband does an unexpected act of service or.....fill in the blank... but are you thankful when things don't work out the way you had hoped? Are you able to find something to be grateful for in the midst of a trial or an upset?

I am thankful for dishes it means we have eaten food and there are mouths around me to eat it. I am thankful for clothes to wash because it means we had some to wear. I am thankful for a house that didn't end up selling because I know God's got a great plan and the time is not now. (plus He gave me a fun new neighbor.) I am thankful for friends and family that surround us daily.

I am not sure what circumstances you are facing today but I do know that your glass can be half full. I know the One who made you........ and his plans are good for your life. I know that Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy and when we focus our energy on our lack, or we let a bitter root shoot up we give the devil a foothold. But when we operate out of a grateful heart with anticipation as to what the Lord has around the corner or right there in front we get the opportunity to live the abundant life He so desires for us to experience. There is much to be grateful for! I pray that your eyes may be open to all that is good in your life, I pray that your heart would meditate on these things and that your soul would be refreshed in the joy of the Lord!

Blessings and prayer,

Kirstin