More Adventures of Caramel and Snickers

 

Cookies and ice cream are nighttime favorites of Caramel and Snickers. Yum! Yum!

 

Dad found us this great hat to wear to the Masters. You won't miss us in this!

 

Here we are with our Official passes into the Masters! We are so excited!!!!

A Trip to The Masters!

 

Caramel and Snickers had a wonderful surprise trip to The Masters with Stan. Stan was a part of a 2nd place foursome in a tournament last fall. The prize was a trip to Augusta to the infamous Masters tournament. This was a dream come true for Stan. And, a HUGE blessing from the Lord! How like our Heavenly Father, to care enough to not only give Stan a much-needed day off (no phones allowed)but to have that day off on the golf course, paid for, fulfilling a life-long dream!
Caramel and Snickers got so excited, they decided to tag along and keep Dad company. The girls and I were so happy to see they made it! Can't wait to hear all of the exciting details!!!

Exciting News......

Well, the word is out! Stan and I are expecting a baby in September!!!! We are thrilled! We are so humbled that the Lord would choose to bless us again. We are also in awe of our Creator and Sustainer. What a blessing to carry another of His unique creations! The girls are ecstatic to say the least. They have been praying for a baby brother or sister for about 2 years. God seems to listen to His children (remember when they prayed for a black, miniature Schanuzer - Baxter!!??) So, I figured that we should prepare. We know that this child was purposed for this time and our family and we can't wait to meet him/her!

Meet Miss Avery Emerson Turner!

Meet our newest little niece! Avery weighed in at 9 lbs. 7 oz. on Tuesday. The LORD has already done a marvelous work in this little girl's life. Shortly after birth, she had difficulty breathing. The drs. determined that one of the flaps had not closed in her heart after delivery. She was put in NICU immediately. They also thought she had an infection. She was on IVs and oxygen. Faithful friends and family (and some of you who do not even know my brother and sister-in-law) started praying and asking God to work. And work, HE did! By Thursday, Avery was off of all IVs, oxygen and they had started a feeding tube. By Friday, she was eating only from a bottle. The drs. are amazed. Are we? NO! Because we know El Rafa, the Healer, and we have seen the work of HIS hands. This is another mighty work of the Master and we are so Blessed to be privilege to see HIS work.
Eph. 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, TO HIM BE GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Valentine's 2009

 

We had Valentine's Week instead of "just a day" at our house! We started with a party with 5 other homeschool families at the Mezzles' house. The girls had a blast. They made necklaces and bags to put their goodies in. Then, we shared a delicious lunch and enjoyed time with friends. Thursday night was a big night for Ellie. She and Stan had a "Daddy - Daughter Date". She picked to go to McDonald's and then on to a dessert/coffee shop. There, they shared a slice of strawberry cake and coffee. (She loves to drink coffee with her Daddy.) To say she was excited is an understatement. Friday night was a big night for Leah. She and Stan had their "Daddy - Daughter Date." He took her to the Green Tea restaurant. (They both love Chinese.) To Leah's surprise, friends, Mike and Lilly Dickinson were meeting them there. They all shared dinner and then went to the YMCA Father/Daughter Dance. John and Sarah Grace Fulford met them there, also. What a night! I think she really felt like her Daddy's princess. Which brings us to the real Valentine's Day. We have always tried to make Valentine's a special day that focuses on two things: #1. It is a reminder that God LOVED us so much that He sent Jesus and #2. That the girls are princesses, God's and Daddy's. We always serve a meal (planned by them) on the "china plates". Tonight was Italian baked chicken, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, and strawberry dessert. And their gifts always reflect these things as well. This year they received shirts that say, "Yes! I am a Princess! My father is the King of Kings!" and little notepads that say "Princess Leah" and "Princess Ellie" on them. Our prayer is that we will instill these truths their hearts for years to come.

A Year in Review

Happy New Year! I can't believe 2008 is history! Our theme for 2008 was "Moving from good to GREAT in 2008". We are looking back and can see the many GREATS of 2008 - blessings from God. Here's a recap of a few "biggies" in chronological order:
*Ellie played her first season of soccer and loved every minute.
*Leah was in 2 musicals and had 2 piano recitals.
*Grandma Martin turned 91 in March.
*Ellie started riding her bike without training wheels.
*Stan and Shannon celebrated 11 years of marriage. We travelled (by car!) to Minnesota to visit Sid, Kelly and Taletta. Leah turned 9 while there.
*The girls visited with grandparents in VA for a week.
*Stan turned 40 with a SURPRISE dessert party.
*Leah lost her last baby tooth!
*Ellie lost her first 2 baby teeth!
*We travelled to VA for a week in September. Shannon had her 20th (can you believe it?) class reunion and Nones celebrated 75 years. Stan and Shannon got away for a few days to their old honeymoon spot. Grandma Turner went to be with the Lord.
*PawPaw retired from Stanley Furniture after almost 41 years.
*Ellie celebrated 5 years and started reading shortly after!
*Shannon celebrated 38 years and we travelled again to VA to surprise PawPaw and Grammie for their 40th wedding anniversary.
*The Lord provided in 2008 and allowed Stan "fruits of his labor" which I have been praying. And,I was allowed to stay home with the girls one more year!

God has always been faithful - that's His name. That doesn't mean that we don't have trials or hardships, that just means that God is always in control and we trust HIM with our lives and future. A favorite verse of many is Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity." When we are God's, He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Maybe not our good here or what we think is good, but for our eternal good and HIS glory. In this next year, we want to chase (seek) after God, beholding Him and reflecting Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). We want to be like Moses and pray, "Let me know Your ways that I may know you. Show me Your glory"! (Exodus 33:13,18)
So, with that in mind, our motto for 2009 is "Letting God shine in 2009!"

Leah's Christmas Recital

Leah did a fantastic job at her Christmas recital on Saturday. Leah played "Frosty the Snowman".
This was her first recital with Mrs. Morriss. Mrs. Morriss has been a HUGE blessing to us. Leah has progressed from just playing a few notes to using both hands and playing a lot by ear since she started in June. (As a matter of a fact, Mrs. Morriss is often telling her to put her ear in her pocket and read the notes!) We love her and she has been an answer to prayer. She is an encourager and she knows what her students need in order to progress. We asked Leah what she thought about the recital and how things went. Her only remark was that she wished she could have played another song!!! Praises! God is working on her and bringing her into who He made her to be. It is such a joy and an honor to have an inside peek of watching Him at work. Blessings to you all!