Meet my small group, photographed to the left. They are a mix of ages and personalities, however they all get a long and seem to really connect with each other. They go to differnt schools, have different hobbies and would other wise never really associate with each other. This is such a great way to broaden their friend base and learn that God created everyone to be different. I can't wait to get to know them more and build relationships with them.
Tonight I lead games again, i think i might be the official games person! Super excited about that! We played "Musical Chairs" my way! hehe! Which meant that each person wasn't trying to get a chair, but instead trying to get as many people in one chair as possible. This way they work together, instead of against each other. We started out with 30 chairs and 50 kids. We ended with six kids on just one chair. However I'm pretty sure if they did it again they could have gotten 10 kids on one chair. Most defiantly a game we need to play again!
Today i just sat and watched Sienna finger paint. Mixing colors and loving the feel of the wet paint on her hands. She loved every second. It was truly a blessing to watch and learn. In life we adults get so wraped up in finishing things quickly and getting it over with so we can move on to the next task. That we just don't stop and enjoy what we are doing. I love learning life lessons from my three year old daughter. :)
So learn something new today, watch your kids while they play. You never know what lessons they might teach you.
Today I got up and was all dressed and ready to get Sienna up and ready for preschool when i realized there was no school today. Oh dear. I had completely forgotten, and Sienna loves school and looks forward to going once a week. The first thing she asked this morning was, "I wonder what we will do in class today." She was super sad when i told her there would be no school today. So i decided to make the day fun to make up for not having school.
Praise God for birthday presents. Sienna received a ton of art supplies from Veronique and the boys and a huge play dough kit from Grandma Lorie. So we spent our day finger painting and playing with play dough. She loved making art and then telling me where to hang it in the house. She cracks me up. Also she spent over an hour just cutting and rolling play dough. She told me she was baking, but said i wasn't aloud to know what she was baking. It was going to be a surprise.
After dinner Sienna and i had fun face painting. Well it started out with her wanting to look like a bunny. Then it turned into her wanting to paint my face! hehe :) She loved getting to draw on my face and we giggled the whole time. I just loved all the fun things we did today and so enjoyed Mommy and daughter time as well. In the end i think she had just as much fun at home as she would have at school. However I know she will love going to school next Monday.
So make sure you set aside time to PLAY. Because kids grow up way to fast and before you know it, they won't want to play anymore. Cherish your little ones everyday!
Today our family and friends got together to celebrate Sienna's third birthday. We decided to have the party at a local park this year and it ended up being a wonderful idea. Shockingly there was no one at the park the whole time we were there, it was like we had the entire park to our selves. Our own little private party, hehe! Sienna enjoyed playing with her friends and cousins on the play ground as all the adults enjoyed food in the shade. It was a lovely day to be outside and having fun.
I am over whelmed by the out pouring of love from our family and friends. Today was such a wonderful day because of each of them. So many family members brought food and drinks and the gifts where over flowing. There is no way we could ever afford the clothes and toys Sienna received today. God is so amazing and abundant in His blessings. He not only provided Sienna with so many things that she needed, but gave her a few things she wanted. God's love for us is always more then we need or deserve.
Thank you to everyone for coming and making Sienna's birthday so very special. You all mean so much to us!
"I have found the one my heart loves." Songs of Solomon 3:4
I am blessed to call him my best friend, lover, and husband. Seven years ago we stood before our family, and our friends and promised our lives to each other. That was one of the most wonderful moments of my life. Although so much has changed in seven years one thing still remains the same, Christ is the center of our marriage and with that we have a strong foundation and have been able to rejoice together in the good time and strengthen our relationship in the hard times. I have had the honor to serve along side him in ministry and raise our daughter together. My life is what it is because of this wonderful man.
Happy Anniversary my love! Thank you for seven years of love! I can't wait to see what's in store for us this year and for many many years to come. I love you!
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
Oh how i love my daughter! Once Daniel and I were married, i longed to have children. And in January 2006 we found out I was pregnant. Everything was so special, hearing her heart beat for the first time, finding out she was a girl, and feeling her move inside me. We rejoiced and praised the Lord, when exactly four years to the day of our wedding day Sienna Joy Milner was born. I could never explain the amount of love that filled my heart for this beautiful child. I never thought i could love someone so much. She was also the product of Daniel's and I's love for each other, and just looking at her would make me fall even more in love with my husband. And today she is three. That almost takes my breath away, my baby is three and not a baby anymore.
I remember the day she was born like it yesterday, and it is so hard for me to grasp that that was three years ago. However at the same time she is such a big girl, it's hard to think she was ever being a baby. She is my little helper and has had a lot of changes in her life just in the past few months. Just this summer a lone she has moved out of her crib into a twin size big girl bed, is now completely potty trained and has her own chores around the house. What a big girl! I praise the Lord for the gift of my Sienna Joy and can't even imagine my life with out her in it. Her loving heart and kind spirit is a gift.
Thank you Lord for another year with my beautiful girl, i can't wait to see the plans you have for her over the next year and the rest of her life. I hope and pray that we will raise her to know and love you and live her life to honor and glorify your name. I could never thank you enough for giving her to me.
Today is Sienna's 3rd birthday! Sienna's Teacher Chris likes to make the birthday boy or girl feel really special at school. Sienna got to be Teacher Chris' helper all day. She help set the tables for snack and put out the special birthday snack we brought (mini coffee cake muffins and grapes). She also helped Chris at circle time and got to sit up front for all the songs and be first to play the games. Sienna also got to put the date on the big calendar and have everyone sing her happy birthday. Sienna just loved the attention and getting to help Teacher Chris. I am amazed at how much she has grown up in just a year. I know that last year she would have hated being up in front of her class, but this year she loved it. As we drove away from school she said to me, "Momma, Teacher Chris made me feel special." I almost started crying, every child should have that special day. Thank you Teacher Chris for loving the kids in your class so much, you made her birthday wonderful!
Sienna is so loved by so many people. And we had the blessing of having families members from around the country send her little birthday gifts. It was so thoughtful and sweet that they would take the time to shop and send special gifts for Sienna. Thank you so much Uncle Jerry, Cinda, Bob, Meritha, and Joe! Sienna loved getting the boxes and getting the treats inside! You are all so special to us, thank you again for thinking of Sienna on her 3rd birthday.
This is by far the most colorful and elaborate wedding i have ever been to. It was amazing to photograph and although the pictures are beautiful, they could never capture the true beauty and love that the day help. As the sunset over Simi Valley Jonathan Turner married Ruby Singh. They joined their lives together in a Christ centered wedding ceremony that showed their friends and family how deeply they love the Lord and each other. This is the first wedding that i have cried at (my wedding not included). I was so over whelmed with emotions and happiness for Jon and Ruby. I wish i had enough time to tell you their love story, but trust me they deserve this day and a life time of happiness.
