Happy 3rd Birthday Griffin!!

My sweet boy is 3.....

where does the time go?

Devotion: What God's Care Is Like

From Ava's Little Visits with God devotional:

Long ago Moses wrote, "Underneath are the everlasting arms." What do you think he meant?

Was he thinking of a boy jumping from a chair into his mother's arms? God's care is like a mother's arms.

Was he thinking of a girl whose father carried her over some water? God's care is like a father's arms.

Was he thinking of an eagle? The mother eagle flies under her young eagles while they are learning to fly. If they fall, the mother eagle catches them on her back and flies them safely back to the nest.

The everlasting arms under us are God's arms. We can't see God's arms, but God tells us that nothing bad can happen to His children because "underneath are the everlasting arms."

God's arms are everlasting- they never get tired, they're never too weak to help us, and they're always under us.

Smores anyone?

We had some good friends over last week to make smores at the campfire Chris built in the backyard. (Note: we had to have some trees cut to save our play set in the backyard from being destroyed- now we have enough wood to burn a campfire for 50 years! Chris did say that splitting the wood was very "therapeutic" for him- where did he get that word? HA)

My Christmas Angels :)

Griffin's 3rd Birthday Party

Griffin will not be 3 until December 27 but we decided to have his party the first weekend of December so that he would have a special time before Christmas. We hosted a few friends at Chuck E Cheese yesterday for his party. Our friends are the BEST because several gave up watching the SEC kickoff to come celebrate Griffin!

He had a great time playing games and opening his presents. The thing he was most excited about was his cake as he picked the football theme :)

1st Grade Christmas Program

Briarwood 1st graders had their annual Christmas program on Friday. Ava was an angel in this year's production. She was so beautiful! (I know that I am biased!!) Ava just loves the whole process of working on the program. I know that she would have been a terrific understudy to anyone as she knew all the parts from memory. At home, she would recite almost the whole script! She has a sharp mind and seems to have a keen memory. I am so glad she got those qualities from her daddy! Here is my little angel:

Piano Recital

Ava was so wonderful in her very first piano recital today. She played Jingle Bells from memory and was very poise on the stage of the Brock Recital Hall at Samford University. Her teacher, Dr. Melodie King, has done an excellent job of teaching Ava the piano these past four months. We are thrilled for her to be learning this valuable skill for the future

Time with Family

I am so thankful and greatful for my little family this year. We have had many struggles this year but have come out better than ever!

Our precious little ones...

Grammy and Poppa have had their "quiver-full" this year with the blessed birth of Elijah Clay Tinney! He brought their number up to a whopping 7 grands!!

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day

When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing

Thanks, amen.

Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food

You've provided And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

--Scott Wesemann

Breakfast with Santa

We went to the annual "Breakfast with Santa" event that Jr. League hosts every year. This year it was renamed to "Snacks with Santa" which is more appropriate since 95% of the food there is 100% sugar! At least the kids get to see Santa and tell him what they want, eat a bunch of junk before lunchtime and wear their Christmas finery :) Fun times with the Albrights!!

Grayson at Samford Homecoming

Me and the G-man hit Samford Homecoming last weekend for some football fun! Before the game, I gave Grayson the "nickel" tour of all my old stomping grounds around campus. We immediately hit the bookstore for Grayson to purchase a Samford shirt and cap. He was so pumped that they carried the Under Armor brand! Then we cruised by the food court (one of my favorite places back in the day) for Icees. We walked around the Quad and listened to a band play in front of the Student Services building. Vail (my freshman dorm) was just up the hill so I convinced Grayson to go up there so I could show him my old window and where I used to park. He was really anxious to get to the game at this point!

While we were waiting for them to open the football stadium gates, we peaked in the awesome Divinity School Chapel. It is incredible with a painted ceiling and very ornate furnishings. I made Grayson stand at the pulpit because I know that Poppa prays that he is a Pastor one day! As I took this photo, I told him that one day he may preach from this pulpit! We shall see...

Grayson's 3rd grade teacher at Brook Hill, Mrs. Alexander, has a son, Wes, that plays football for the Bulldogs. She was excited to have Grayson at the game and even brought a jersey of Wes's for Grayson to try on.

The highlight of Grayson's day came after the game when he got to meet Wes in person and have him sign his cap. I wish everyone (especially his mom and dad) could have seen Grayson's face when Wes gave him his actual game gloves. It was so precious! Pure joy! Wes was so kind to Grayson and wrote the Bible reference for Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Trick or Treat!

We had a busy but fun-filled Halloween night around the Albright home! Our morning was slow because Ava's last football/cheerleader game was called due to the rain. Let me tell you- we needed it! I feel like we have been rushing so much lately and I needed some "down" time. Our church's fall festival was from 2 to 4 and the kids always love that.

After we had done all our damage there, we headed to the Bloom's house in Mt. Brook. Their neighborhood has a parade with the kids for two blocks and then everyone enjoys a hot dog supper in the street. Martin and Kathy had some Boston Butt sandwiches and grilled shrimp for us. It was so yummy and they were such kind hosts for us. The kids loved passing out candy at their house!

Running over to Lake Cyrus was the next item on our busy night agenda. Thomas and Laurie hosted us and some other friends for the trailer ride around the neighborhood to load up on more candy. Griffin and Ava loved the stopping and running up to the doors with their friends!

Ava's first concert

Well, we did it. Ava went to her very first "rock" concert last weekend. Although I regret the content of the show, Ava was oblivious to any questionable material and loved it. Miley Cyrus is definitely NOT Hannah Montana during the concert! Anyway, she had a great time with her friend, Victoria. Here are some photos:

World Vision

I have been thinking alot lately about how blessed we are to live in the house we have, drive the cars we drive, and send our kids to the school of our choice. I wonder about the children who would benefit from our leftovers after dinner and would give anything to wear that outfit that Ava rejects as being "baby-ish".

The Lord has really been prompting me to give until it hurts to someone else. As I was driving to work last week, I listened to Rick and Bubba talk about World Vision and how to sponser a child so they may have food, clothes, medicine and a chance at a decent education. A light went off in my head! This is just the charity for our family! So I came home, logged on and signed up :)

I chose two children from Honduras, William and Yesy. William is a boy and was born on December 27, 2006- the same day as Griffin! Yesy is a girl and was born on March 7, 2003- the same day as Ava! What a providential God we serve that our family will be able to assist two children the same age and developmental stage as our biological children.

Ava and Griffin have really enjoyed talking about what we are doing to help William and Yesy and have remembered them in their prayers every night. Griffin says that William is his best friend! He also pronounces Yesy as "Wesy". Ava is very curious about where they live and what they do during the day. It has been a great teaching opportunity for her.

I want to encourage you to open your hearts and your wallets to charitable organizations. If you have the time to get out there and volunteer, do! It will feed your soul in ways you could never imagine...

New Camera :)

So those of you who know me well know that I love to take pictures! I have loved cameras since my very first experience with a 30 pound Polaroid. I feel like I have kept up with the trends in cameras going from 'roid to film to digital until recently when I began noticing that friends with no camera skill what-so-ever had awesome photos. I nosed around and found the missing ingredient to my photo perfection: SLR!

After many months of research and ratting away money, I have purchased a Nikon D5000! I am so excited but I have no idea how to work it. My lighting is not great and I don't know what all the knobs are for but I guess I can watch a you-tube about it!

Here are some of my first shots: