Cowgirl Up!

Faith's first birthday party was this past weekend, and we rocked it cowgirl style! Faith sported a pink pearl snap cowgirl shirt, jeans, boots, and a princess cowgirl hat (only long enough for her to knock it off her head).

Her little friends came wearing their little cowgirl boots. The party favors were personalized, diva-ized cowgirl hats. Faith was mesmerized with the whole event. At one point, she stood solo in the kitchen staring at everyone standing around her for about 10 minutes. We were wondering when her little legs would tire!

She opened her presents and got some neat things! A fisher price school bus, a personalized apron, a radio flyer push/ride toy, clothes, a jack-in-the box, and from mom and dad, a radio flyer bouncing horsie (a cowgirl must).

When it came time for cake, Faith was all about her chocolate cake with chocolate icing! She did not dive in, but carefully, she started with just a taste of icing, and after several minutes, dug right in! Faith fell into a sugar coma, as you can see below with her pic with Grandpa and Grandma. She had to be undressed in the kitchen and taken promptly to the bathtub. After her party, she slept in mommy's arms. Mommy noticed that there was still cake in her ear even after the bath and hair washing!!!

Thanksgiving---a little belated

So, I've felt overwhelmed with the task of explaining our Thanksgiving Break...I have finally drawn the courage to attempt a synopsis.

Our break began on Tuesday the 24th, when we piled into the truck 3 dogs, 1 baby, 2 adults, and loads of luggage. This was the first time Faith had ridden in her seat facing forward, and I thought she would absolutely love it! Um, no. She could see us and therefore wanted our attention...that is full attention at all time please!

We made it to the farm at a decent hour and spent some QT with Grandma and Grandpa Sullivan before falling asleep. While there, Bubba went duck hunting the first several mornings. He would get up at 5:30 and leave at 5:50 or so, then Faith would be up soon after! Once she awoke in a new place, there wasn't much chance of her going back to sleep. So we spent several cold morning playing with Grandma in the living room. I waited patiently for her to get sleepy again and get another little nap!

On Wednesday afternoon, Faith's cousins started to arrive. We gathered firewood and had a huge family bond fire Wednesday night with SMORES! Yummy. Other than my brothers trying to catch us all on fire by putting leaves on the fire as we were standing near it, we really enjoyed our time together. Faith sat most of the night with Uncle Sully. She actually fell asleep in his arms.

Thanksgiving Day came, and Faith dawned her Turkey shirt that I made her. See pic. She watched her cousins put up an artificial tree and decorate it . When it came time to eat, Faith was up to trying new things. She really loved Aunt Jill's sweet potato casserole, and Uncle Sully's fried turkey. Grandma Nina's mashed potatoes were a hit as well.

That night, once we recovered and got back from hunting, Uncle Sully bravely put on his Santa suit for a photo shoot with Faith which yielded one, yes one, picture of Faith with a smile. You can look in your snail mailbox for that pic. The others looked more like this:

Faith also got her first kiss that night. From her second cousin, Matthew. Ahhhh....so cute!

We left the farm on Friday to head to El Dorado where we stayed at Aunt Chasity and Cousin Lauren's new place. They were sweet to have us and we loved our time with them. Faith and her cousin attempted a bath together, but Faith did not, I repeat, did not like the bubbles and immediately demanded to be taken out of the tub!

Saturday and Sunday we spent some time with Nanny Betty and Papaw T.J., Uncle Dean and Aunt Rose Marie and John. Faith learned a new trick while visiting them, she learned how to do the Indian call. She even tried to do this to herself in the cutest little uncoordinated way if you can imagine!

On the way home, it rained. Oh, and everyone was on the interstate! Bubba got a great idea to cut through the backwoods. We went through places that didn't even have a convenient store! Faith was not that sleepy, unfortunately, and she watched her Baby Faith dvd about 18 times. NOT kidding. The Lord brought us safely home. Though cranky, we were all so happy to be back home.

F.A.I.T.H.

One day, when Faith asks us why she was named "Faith," boy do we have a story to tell! Faith was a shining gift of light on an otherwise dark year for us and our family. I ran across this neat interpretation of faith and thought I'd share with you and with our Faith some day...


F is for Forgiveness.
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness. "In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin" Ephesians 1:7

A is for Available
Forgiveness is available for all. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16, But not automatic:"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 7:21

I is for Impossible
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. God is Love, John 3:16Just, "For judgment is without mercy" James 2:13 Man is Sinful" For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23Question: But how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin?

T is for Turn
Turn means repent or change directionTurn from something- sin and self" But unless you repent you will all likewise perish" Luke 13:3 Turn to someone; trust Christ only" Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" 1 Cor. 15:3-4"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9

H is for Heaven. Heaven is eternal life
Here "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" John 10:10Hereafter" And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" John 14:3 How can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord? Romans 10:9

F.A.I.T.H "Forsaking All I Trust Him"

Opening Weekend at the Farm

Here is our future little deer hunter! Notice the boots courtesy of Uncle Sully and Aunt Maria. Her outfit is complete with pink camo pants (hard to see here) and a pink camo hat that her dad got her that has a pic of a little deer and says "I'm aDOEable." You might be wandering what it is that has her attention. Well, she is witnessing her first deer skinning. She was fascinated with the entire experience!

This particular night, I went hunting with Bubba, and Faith stayed at the house with Grandma. When we returned and knew that a deer had been taken, we picked Faith up and put her between us on the four wheeler (which she loved!) and rode over to where they were skinning.

Other firsts of the weekend included eating her first piece of mud and having brown slobber ooze out of her mouth as I wrestled her to take out the clump of mud!

Her daddy got an 8 point on Sunday, and I have a pic I will post soon!

Look out, She's Walking !

Look out World! At lunch today Faith starting walking behind her push toy. She's pulled up behind it before, but she's never walked. She went all the way across the living room like four times before I had to leave and go back to work :(

Grandma Nina is keeping her right now. She rode down with Uncle Sully, who was on business, and is staying with us all week! We are taking her back when we head back to Arkansas this weekend.

Check up

Though this is belated, Faith's 9 month check-up yielded surprising news...Faith is 31 inches long already! yikes! Thankfully, everything is proportional. She weighs an even 25 pounds now.
Her dad and I are convinced she will be driving us around all too soon!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Faith had the opportunity to meet with some friends at a local church's pumpkin patch this past weekend. The three, all within several months of each other, enjoyed their time despite all three had been woken from a nap by their parents. Payton, who just turned one year, brought her new radio flyer wagon and Faith absolutely loved it! Thanks for sharing, Payton!

Later, we carved pumpkins at the house. Much to my dismay, Faith wasn't too keen on getting all the pumpkin gook all over her. I tried desensitization with her, and I rubbed the gook all over her...that didn't work out to well. I finally got some finger paint out and put a glob on the pumpkin and let her smear it around with her fingers. That seemed to work just fine!