Happy Birthday!!

My sister Kristi, celebrated her birthday yesterday. Kristi is a beautiful person, who warms a room immediately with her presence. Her heart is gentle and kind and she is always willing to help with anything!!
Kristi is married to my brother Matt, and is mother to Garrett and Olivia.
Happy Birthday, Kristi! I love you and am grateful for the blessing that you are to me and our family!

My friend, Deanna is celebrating her birthday today! Deanna and I have been friends since we were very tiny little girls! Deanna brings laughter and joy into most any situation! She is married to Steven and is mommy to Chloe and Owen.
Happy Birthday Dear Friend! I pray that you have a beautiful day and that you know how loved you are!!

Goodbye Marcus!!

I would like to take a moment to say goodbye to Capt. Marcus Moyer (USMC), as he gets ready to leave tomorrow for a 7 month deployment, overseas!
Marcus will be flying helicopters off of the USS Iwo Jima (the ship you see in the background).

I am not a military wife, and have never had to say goodbye to my husband for months at a time...so I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for Julie. I so admire her courage!!
Julie, I am praying for you to see God as your strength. He will hold you through this! Your friends, and I'm sure your family, are here for you too!

Marcus, I pray that God will protect you and keep you! Thank you for your service to America! Your sacrifice and service are not going unnoticed here in our house!!

"The LORD bless you
and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Hurry Home!
Love,
The Taylor's

Don't Let Me Miss the Glory!!!!

School Has Begun!!

Our three kids all started school this week! WOO HOO!

As I explained earlier, this has been a new adventure for us, but it is proving to be a good one! They are all beginning to adjust to our early morning routine. Nikki stuck her head out the back door this morning, and said, "I didn't know morning smelled SO yummy!!" She then went on to describe the scent of morning....."it smells just like the mountains!"

There have been "out of their comfort zone" adjustments, but they are doing well with them! They are getting their schedules figured out, their locker combinations memorized and learning what is needed for their classes! Nikki just has to remember which cubbie is hers, and where to put her lunch!


God is good, and we are thanking Him for His faithfulness to us and our children! We are all in His watchful care and protection....and on top of that, we are abundantly loved!!

Congratulations to the French's!!

Today, I had the honor of being a labor/delivery coach for one of my best friends, Julie French. It was such a wonderful experience, and I am so grateful that Robb and Julie asked me to be a part of it!!

I am going to let Julie announce her baby's arrival and all of her details!!

I will say that she is a beautiful baby!! Robb, Julie and the rest of the family are doing great!!

Congratulations, French's!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Gary!!

Happy Birthday to our Uncle Gary!

We love you, and hope that you have a great day!
Duane, Sheila, Ashley, Alex and Nikki

From Nikki: "Happy Birthday! I love you!"

Fruit Pizza

Crust:

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. flour
1/4 c. powdered sugar

Mix together. Then with your fingers, spread out on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 min.

Cream Cheese Spread:

1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. pkg cream cheese

Cream together, and carefully spread over (cooled) crust.

Glaze:

1 c. fruit nectar (I like to use peach, but Strawberry-Banana is also good)
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice

Stir constantly over med. heat, until thick and bubbly. Let cool completely. Spread over cream cheese layer.

Fruit:

Cut/slice whatever fruits you choose to top your pizza, and arrange on top of the glaze layer.
Chill and Serve!

As Summer Winds Down...

Here are pictures of the days and events that we have been enjoying over the last few weeks...

Nikki, at the CNR

Jennifer, Margaret, Leslie and Bev at the CNR!

Ben and Julie, at the CNR

Duane (cuter than any cowboys there!!)

Bob, Ash and Duane

Margaret, Bob and Ash

Emme and Nikki

Pileup!!!!!!!!!! Poor Alex!

Nikki and Emme
Terry and Ben

Your's truly and her man!

Duane, Brittney, Jeremy, Terry, Marc and Addison

Alex

Aunt Leslie and Bev

Ash and Brittney

Talisha, Marc, and Leslie

Bob and his sister, Lenora

The dessert that I took to dinner!

Duane and Brittney

Cher, Laura and Sheila (Laura is a friend from elementary school!)

The little Taylor girls painting pottery

The big Taylor girls painting pottery

Leslie and Talisha with their masterpieces (Duane told Leslie he thought hers looked like fried eggs on a plate!! She thought it was funny!)

Nikki

Duane untangling one of many lines!

Nikki
Aaron and Talisha with their catches!

My boy, Alex!
My Man, Duane!
My girl, Ash (and Tucker)

My other girl, Nikki (she had just gotten a bee sting on her foot! Poor thing!)

Kenlee, Emme, and Addison with worms!!!! YUK!!!

Marc and Talisha


Aaron and Cher....rub-a-dub-dub!

Just a reminder!

I have chosen to have a public blog, meaning anyone can read it, but I won't accept comments to my posts unless you sign your name in the comment, or I know you personally.

I have gotten several comments recently that were very nice, but I don't know who they are from, so I rejected them. Please just sign your name in your comment!

I also won't accept comments from bloggers who only include their blog name, such as "My Cup of Tea"...especially if your blog is blocked for reading! "My Cup of Tea" doesn't give me your name!


Thank you!
Sheila

School Lunches!!

For the first time in a long time, this momma is soon going to be back to packing lunches everyday!!
I remember that this was one of my least favorite things about school!!

So, since I have a blog, and can write or say anything I care to, I thought I would use it this week as a place for all of my blog readers to share their ideas and thoughts on school lunches! I need your help!!

Here are a few things I want to know......

1. What is your idea of the yummiest lunch?
2. What do you do to save money on school lunches?
3. What do you pack other than a sandwhich?
4. Does soup really stay warm in those little thermoses?
5. Do you give your kids choices or do they pack their own lunches?
6. Anything else I need to know?

You don't have to answer all of the questions....just help me!! Please!!!

A New Road.....

Today marks the beginning of a new ministry that I am going to be a part of. Early this Spring, it became clear to me, that God was asking me to begin a journey of faith with Him. A journey that is brand new to me, but the passion was sparked years ago!

God had placed on my heart a passion to walk beside women in crisis. There seems to be so many women, even in the church, who are finding themselves drowning in pain, depression, trauma, addictions.....feeling like they have no hope!

I knew that God was calling me to give them some hope! I can't fix their problems, but God can! I can't make life better for them, but I can walk with them and be their friend!

After meeting with our Ministries Pastor, and sharing my passion, she was excited about the possibilities! She, Duane and I decided that we would pray, and wait to see what happened!

The very next morning, I got an email from Lynn saying, that morning our Pastor had asked her if there were any ladies in the church, who would be interested in walking beside a gal that needs love, friendship and support?

So, to make a long story shorter.....today I am meeting (over coffee of course) with a girl that is desperately in need of hope! She became a Christian recently, and is needing support as she faces some hard things!

I am not going to be her counselor or her psychologist. I won't be able to fix her life, and make it pretty for her! I simply intend to love her like Jesus does...that is all He asks!

Please pray for me as I begin this journey! God is doing something amazing in my life...and it is ALL about HIM!!

Back to Herself!!

This is what takes place two hours after the doctor told Nikki that her broken arm is healed! If you can't tell what she is doing, she is jumping rope!
After a trip to Target to get a present (Mix 'Ems Markers and Notebook) for being such a brave girl, she came home and jumped on her scooter for a ride around the neighborhood!

I do believe she is back to herself!

My Pilgrimage to God!

This Summer and it's relaxed schedule afforded me the time to be involved in a Bible Study, by Beth Moore called, Stepping Up.

I will begin by admitting that I have never properly learned how to study the Bible. I read, but never really dissected the verses, understood their context, compared verses to one another.....this Bible study has indeed changed my life in more ways than one...one of them being that I actually studied 15 chapters in the Psalms...in eight weeks!!

Psalms 120-134 are considered the Psalms of Ascent. They were sung by the pilgrims as they journeyed to the Three Great Feasts!

I will not ever have enough space or time to share everything that I gained from this study! I have a study book that has become like a precious treasure to me! It contains what I learned, the insights that God shared with me about my pilgrimage, the cries and joys of my heart that closely resemble David's, the Word of God that will forever be engraved onto the tablet my heart.......pure gold!

I am on a journey....I have not arrived....but just as they sang their praises to God, I too will praise Him!

The Psalm that may very easily rise to the top as my all time favorite passage of Scripture is, Psalm 121: 1-8 (HCSB)

1 I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber (your Keeper does not sleep!).

4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.

5 The LORD protects you;
the LORD is a shelter right by your side.

6 The sun will not strike you by day,
or the moon by night.

7 The LORD will protect you from all harm;
He will protect your life.

8 The LORD will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.

(Highlights are mine)

I personally entitled this Psalm, "My Keeper". No matter what comes into my life that threatens to "take me out", God is aware and awake, and my Keeper will protect my life!! Will bad things still happen....most assuredly! But will it take me out for good? No!!

Tonight I will exalt, my God, my King...my Keeper!