Congrats Mike, LeAnna and Cora!!!

Mike, LeAnna and Cora congrats on moving up to Triple A with the Washington Nationals! Great is the Lord's faithfulness!! We just knew this would happen, and are so proud of you. Listened on the radio as you tore it up for two innings your first night and are starting out with an incredible average. We are so proud of both of you and the way you have worked, been patient, loved each other, supported each other, stood your ground, and maintained your faith all the while standing as a witness for Christ. Your extended territory in triple A ball will be blessed and we are praying continued favor over you. Stay strong, take it one day at a time and work hard, you guys deserve every precious blessing!!! We love you and cannot wait to see you!!! And we are sooooooo excited for you!!!!!!

Hugs and Kisses to all three of you,
Toby, Cari, Cade and Ainsley

Toby's Birthday Weekend Celebration!

Happy Belated Birthday to our precious Toby! We had a blast celebrating life and hope you can click on the link to the side to view the slideshow of all the pics! Thanks to EVERYONE for all the help, you made it so special and we love you all!

Cade's Special Trip to Mamaw and Pawpaw's!!

thoughts on my heart

Okay so it has been a while since I actually made a post, I have just been reeling with all the pics we have been taking! Yesterday Jesus drew me to Himself and revealed a word from My Utmost I could not help but post....All I can say is that I am in a honest place of forgiveness, needing unending grace, finally wanting to forget the past, and wanting more than life to reach AHEAD to Jesus....

My Utmost for His Highest July 11

"That I may know Him. Philippians 3:10. The initiative of the saint is not towards self realization, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and again until we do. Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples' feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial work. "Jesus knowing....that He was come from God, and went to God...took a towel....and began to wash the disciples feet." The aim of the spiritual saint is that I may know Him. Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am here not to realize myself, but to know Him. In Christian work the initiative is too often the realization that something has to be done and I must do it. That is never the attitude of the spiritual saint; his aim is to secure the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances he is in."

Love to you today,
Cari

Girl's Weekend!

Fun at the Zoo!

thoughts on my heart

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

So, in all honesty I have had a hard week, and it is only Wed. I had an incredible weekend, a perfect summer weekend complete with my precious people, snow cones, movie nights, Saturday morning doughnuts, coffee of course, swimming, and most important intimate revelations of sweet Jesus. We went to a Saturday night service at Gateway and heard a favorite pastor of ours, John Spurling, give an incredible Word on who we are in Christ. I don't think I have left that Word since I heard it.

He started by asking the question who we believe God sees when he looks at us? What does our picture look like to God? He shared a story about how as soon as his daughter was born friends and family were trying to figure out who she looked like. She has daddy's nose, mommies eyes..maybe I see her grandma in there. He said that was so funny because no one really looks like they did as soon as they were born, but we are obsessed with figuring it out because we know that that baby was created from us. He went on to remind us that in Christ we are created in HIS image...we are to LOOK like Him.

That got me thinking about my kids and when I saw this pic we took at the zoo the Lord really drove this point home. I feel like now we are in the "who do your kids look like" phase. And they are changing everyday, and revealing new attributes of Toby and I. Some days Cade looks just like me, other days like Toby. When Ainsley was born she looked just like my baby picture, now she looks exactly like Toby.

The point is they were created from our DNA so of course they are going to look like us. It is a no brainer. But why is it that I forget so quickly where I come from and who I was created by and for. It has been a hard week because every bit of who I am in Christ vs. who I accept from the world that I am has challenged me to the core. It is so easy to accept who the world says I am and forget the promises of Christ. I have to remember that when Christ looks at me just like when I look at my kids He sees ME (which is made in the image of HIM), just like I do when I look at my kids. Yes, I look at them on the outside, but I see their hearts. I KNOW who they are and who they are striving to be. I forget so quickly that that is exactly who Christ sees me as.

And so as a reminder to myself I am sharing with you who you victoriously are IN CHRIST...that this is who HE sees you to be.

You are Victorious! "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - FAITH!" 1 John 5:4

You are Light! "While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons and daughters of light." John 12:36

You are Complete! "And in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority." Colossians 2:10

We are under NO Condemnation! "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

You are sealed in the Holy Spirit! "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were SEALED in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." Ephesians 1:13

You are created in HIS image! "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27

We are created for Heaven! "For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20

You are chosen, royal and holy! "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's won possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

You are FREE! "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36

You were bought with a GLORIOUS price! "For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20

You are justified! "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16

You are saved by grace! "For by grace you have been through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

God is LOVE!

Love to you today!
Cari