Looking back at 2012

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT ON THIS NEW YEARS EVE TO REFLECT ON ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN 2012. WE HAVE HAD SOME TRYING MOMENTS AND MOMENTS OF WORRY, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN GOD COME THROUGH FOR OUR FAMILY IN SOME WONDERFUL WAYS. SO AS WE SAY GOOD BYE TO 2012 I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GOD AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF HIS BLESSINGS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IN 2013. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
We had a wonderful day together as a family. To top it all off we got a dusting of snow this evening. I think Carter was more excited about the snow than he was about his presents. Arica would have been too except she has been sick with the flu.
Hopefully the snow will still be there in the morning so the kids can play in it before it melts. Here is a picture I took out the side door. If the kids are able to play in it tomorrow I'll post more tomorrow.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Another trip to Dallas

Well, we made another trip to Dallas last Monday for more doctor appointments. We received all positive reports so we are very thankful for that. Carter is doing very well and his speech has even started picking up more. God has been very good and we are thankful for all the improvements we've started to see.
After all the appointments we took the kids to see ICE at the Gaylord Texan Resort. They really had a good time and it was nice to have some fun before heading home. Here are some pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take a minute and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and I think sometimes we forget just how much we are blessed. I hope you'll take a moment today to stop and thank The Lord for all he's done for you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you Lord for saving my soul
Thank you Lord for making me whole
Thank you Lord for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Happy Veterans Day

Fall has arrived

We were on our way to church Sunday morning and Carter found a leaf on the ground that he really liked. After looking at it for a while he held it up in the air and said "star". To him it looked like a star and stars go in the sky.

It is amazing to me how simple things become something of wonder when looked at through the eyes of a child. Carter carried that leaf around all day and showed it to everyone he saw. It was a good reminder for us to stop and take a minute in our busy lives to appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

Family day

Arica had off school Thursday and Friday so we were able to take the kids to the park on Friday after Aaron got home from work. On Saturday we went to the Boardwalk in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was nice to have some time to spend having fun together as a family this weekend. Enjoy the pictures.

Dallas Again ?

This past Wednesday Carter, Bailey, Jessica and I headed out to Dallas once again. Carter goes to Dallas several times a year for various types of appointments. This time however was a little different, because we were meeting with a Neurosurgeon at the Dallas Children's Hospital. Wow, that's a big word. Carter had an MRI a while ago, and we had been awaiting the results of what they had seen and found. Instead of us receiving a good report of the MRI, we received an appointment with a Neurosurgeon. There's that big word again. I would like to think of myself as a brave, strong, calm Man but I was tore up on the inside for the last month or so not having any idea why, or what to expect from this appointment. We have gone through some things in the past with Carter, but the thought of neurosurgery seemed too much to bear at this point. The main concern was a tethered spinal cord. The MRI's will not always show it, so to be sure more in depth precautions were taken. The Doctors have never seen anyone like Carter, so we must always look at every option when making decisions about his treatment. But praise God, I can gladly report to y'all that after extensive study of all Carter's history and information, and upon a physical examination by the Doctor there is no need for Carter to undergo surgery for his brain or his spinal cord. God is good. We do not know why we were blessed with Carter, but I am very grateful for the special gift God has given us. I want to say thank you to all those people who pray for us and Carter. I also want to mention a couple families who time after time have helped watch the other children, so we could go and focus on our appointments with Carter. Thank you so much to Bro. and Mrs. Rick Story and to our good friends Bro. and Mrs. Arrington. Y'all have been a bigger blessing than I could ever express.

Carter needs a pick me up.

4th floor of the parking garage, looking across to the Hospital.

Carter always maintains His sense of humor. 

Carter turns 4 !!!!

It's hard to believe but today is Carter's fourth birthday. I couldn't help but remember when he was born. Holding him in the NICU looking at all the wires and the feeding tube I remember begging God to give him the strength and grace he would need. We had no idea what was wrong or why or what to expect. How little did we know that God had just given us a very special gift. God has been good to us and given Carter a special kind of inner strength but yet a very tender and loving heart. Daddy and Mommy are very proud of you and we love you very much.

We took Carter to play at Chuck E Cheese with one of his friends
from church. He had a really great time and loved riding this horse.

Funny faces!!

I just had to share a few of Bailey's funny faces. She keeps us rolling with laughter and is easily egged on. Enjoy!

Arica turns 7

Sorry I'm so late getting this posted we've been very busy the last 4-5 weeks. This is a picture of Arica with her birthday cake. She turned 7 July 21st and was extremely excited.

Meet Steve

This is Mr. Steve Cox. He has been coming to church with me for about 2 months now. A few weeks ago He made a comment to me, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and lead me to check Steve's salvation. After a few minutes of talking and questions, I saw Steve bow His head and trust Christ as His Saviour. Yesterday morning Steve walked the isle with me, spoke with our Pastor, and followed the Lord is Baptism. Amen! Praise God!

Same house, More souls

Last week I posted about Brandon Reed trusting Christ. I went back to His house Saturday to visit Him( he was not home), But I was able to lead Mis. Tina and her two children to the Lord at the same house. Praise God, He knew they would be there. My Pastor said something a few years ago in a sermon that I have not forgotten. He said something like this ( there is no accidental meeting of Gods Word with the lost). Praise God He uses people like us to spread His word.

Soul winning

This is Brandon Reed. I had the honor of showing Him the Gospel, and watching Him trust Christ this last Saturday. He told me He wanted to go to Heaven, but like so many people He believed He must be good to do so. Praise God that He did not require our goodness to get into Heaven, but that my sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb. Brandon was spending this past weekend with his family, but I am picking Him up for church this coming Sunday. God is good. Amen.

Arica's turn in the spotlight

I was just looking over our blog and thinking about our three kids Arica who is going to be 7 July 21st, Carter who will be 4 this summer, and Bailey who just turned 2. I was thinking mostly about Arica though, she is becoming a young lady and I think struggles the most of all three. She tries to help, but sometimes makes it worse. She has a big responsibility as the oldest child to do right, the other two follower her actions and attitude. I sometimes find myself being angry at her for her influence over the other kids, but then I have to remember she is only 6 and that it is not her responsibility to train the kids, it's mine. So this is just a special post to say "Arica I love you and hope nothing but the best for you, and that one day you will forget all my mistakes as a Father and just continue to Love people as they are, like you always have".

Bailey turns two!!

It is hard to believe but Bailey turned 2 on Thursday. She has been a blessing to our family and I'm thankful God gave her to us.

Andrew's wedding photos

I just wanted to share a few pictures from Andrew's wedding. Sorry it took so long to get them up but the modem for our computer went down and it took us a little while to get it replaced. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Andrew and Megan

Andrew and Aaron

The whole wedding party

Arica getting her hair done

Saturday morning we took Arica to the beauty shop to get her hair done for Andrew's wedding. She was nervous at first but did a good job sitting still and it turned out great.

Trip to Wisconsin

Here are a few pictures I snapped on our trip up to Wisconsin for my brother's wedding. It is a very long and hard trip especially for the kids but God is good and we made it there safely.

This is the sunrise I saw outside our hotel in
Perryville, Missouri at 5am

This is a picture of the Mississippi River. I
snapped it from a moving car on a rainy day
so hopefully it's not too blurry.

These are of  St. Louis, Missouri as we drove
by on the by-pass. It was as close as we got to
the arch but the kids enjoyed seeing it.

This is some of the countryside that we drove
through in Wisconsin. We ended up showing Arica
the apartment we lived in when she was born and
the first house Aaron and I lived in after we got married.
We were able to relive some wonderful memories on our
trip and share them with our children.

Carter's new bike

Carter had his physical therapy today. She brought him a special bike that was made for him. He can pedal it with his feet and or his hands. He had a great time in the driveway and of course was sad when it was time to come in. As a parent of a special needs child I am sometimes overwhelmed at the support we receive from family, friends, church family and agencies set up to help with needs like Carter has. I don't know how many people actually read this but let me just say a big thank you to all who help us as we raise our little gift from God. Thank you once again! Please enjoy the pics below.