My Girls

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Riley's 2nd Birthday

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4th of July

Busted! Vanessa has had a hard time sleeping lately... seems as though Baby Dash has her in training for the changes that he'll bring when he makes his arrival in the very near future. During her long sleepless nights, she's been reading my blog...maybe in hopes that it'll be so boring that she can't help but nod off :) Anyway, whatever the reason, she's come to the conclusion that I must love Riley more because all my family pictures tend to be of Riley alone. As far as loving Riley more... not true! But with regard to the pictures that I've posted... guilty as charged! So in order to make amends, here's a few pictures of my girl with her girl...

BOTH the loves of my life!

Blessed to Be a Blessing!

First, let me attach a disclaimer to this blog... it's not about me.

I just feel compelled to share an amazing story of how sometimes God blesses us with an "awareness" of an opportunity to be salt... to be light.... for His glory. The experience is truly a "God thing" and one can't help but to pass it on.

2 days ago, I was running an errand to a fabric store when I met J. The encounter started with a simple question. She asked, "Do you sew much?" My response was, "A little...Why? What do you need?" Then the tears came, and I realized the need was much more than what kind of thread to buy. J. shared that she was new to Midland... that she knew no one. She was getting married in a week in Jackson, Wyoming, and that she'd just picked up her dress from an alterations business only to discover that the alterations were nothing like what she'd asked for. I hugged her, encouraged her, shared a bit of my story, and offered to help her in any way I could.

Fortunately, she allowed me the honor and privilege to team with her. That afternoon, she came over and together we undid the previous alterations and made a new plan to remake her wedding dress. We worked and shared together until 9 that evening. By the time she went home, I'd learned that she'd been raised by her Grandma, as her mother had died when she was 2. Her Grandma, a Godly woman, now 93, had taught her to sew as a young child... and had also blessed her with a beautiful, strong "can do" spirit. What a joy it would have been for her Grandma to have been able to help her now, but Arkansas is just a bit too far! I truly believe with all my heart that God blessed me with the opportunity to make a difference as our paths crossed... not sure how that works, but I don't think it was an accident.

What an honor ...what a thrill... to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this precious young lady's life. We finished the alterations on Saturday. This coming Sunday, August 1st, J. will look like the beautiful princess... daughter of a Heavenly King... that she is, as she walks down the aisle to marry the love of her life with God's magnificent creation, the Grand Teton Mountains, towering over them.... truly, joy beyond measure!

Don't you just love happy endings? I know I do, and best of all,
God does too!