An Early Birthday Wish

My sweet Riley's birthday is tomorrow. I don't want to be busy on the computer tomorrow so I am posting today. I am so proud of Riley. She has grown so much in the last year. She asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior this year, she has become a big sister again, and she has taken on many responsibilities on her own without us asking her to. She is my child who gets up by herself each morning and gets herself completely ready without any prodding from us. She helps me so much with Charlie and he loves her so much.

When I found out I was pregnant with Riley, John Adams was only 8 months old and Charles was just about to graduate from seminary. We had tried for a couple of years to have children, before John Adams, and though we had been successful, 3 of the 4 pregnancies had ending in miscarriage. So once John Adams got here, we were just breathing a sigh of relief and thanking Jesus for the opportunity to be parents, if only to this one little boy. Well, as happens so many times, God had bigger plans and along came Riley. At first, I was a little overwhelmed to think of having 2 'babies' but it didn't take long to be completely excited at this blessing God had given us at just the right time.

Riley is such an incredible blessing and rarely does a day go by that I don't look at her and think of God's goodness and grace.

Happy Birthday,Riley!

I love you and pray that in everything you do, you will SHINE for Jesus!

Time with My Girls

Several months ago, I was talking to my girls about what they wanted to do for their birthdays. If your children are anything like mine, they start thinking about birthday parties way before their birthday. I asked them if they might want to go to the American Girl store in Atlanta, which is the closest store to our city, instead of having a big party. Riley's and Ellie's birthdays are 3 weeks apart so it would be perfect. Well, they decided to go to Atlanta. So, this past weekend, my girls and I, along with my sister, Michelle, and her daughter, Ivy, loaded up for a road trip.

The store has a restaurant inside so we made reservations for lunch. The day before, we went shopping at the store because the girls had to have matching outfits for them and their dolls.

May I just put in a plug for the Marriott at North Point. They have a whole American Girl package that we happened upon but what so great. They decorated the girls' room in pink, gave them doll beds, cookies and milk for them and their dolls, tiaras, cupcakes for their birthday, and breakfast was included. They also had a separate check-in for their dolls. (Side note: they also have a Good Knight package for boys). It was wonderful!

The American Girl Bistro does such a great job of catering to the girls and their dolls. They have highchairs for the dolls and even a place for them to 'hang-out' in the restroom. They also give them a little cup and saucer should your daughter want to feed some lunch to their doll.

This weekend could not have been what it was without my precious niece, Ivy, who loved her dolls dearly when she was a little younger. Or without my sister, who took time away from the rest of her family to spend the weekend with us.

The last thing we did before traveling back was get the dolls' hair done and ears pierced. That was a gift from their cousin.

You know, I realized this weekend that my girls are at an age that is so sweet and innocent. Riley will be 9 this week and this may be the last year that she loves her baby dolls and would enjoy doing something like this. I am so glad we took the time to take them and make some very special memories with just the girls.