The weekend

We had a great weekend. Saturday Haven and I went to help my Aunt Wanda paint some furniture for her sale in November. We then went on a date with Micah Saturday night and went to find our sweet dog, Gage a sweater for the cold weather to come. No luck on the sweater, but we had fun and went to Barnes and Noble and let Haven play a little bit in the kids section. Sunday we went to church and then to Tim's Pizza on the square in Fayetteville. A sweet baby was there in his carrier and the place wasn't too crowded yet, so Haven was able to 'focus' her attention on him. She asked 'Mommy, do we have a baby'? I almost cried, and said 'No, we don't, not yet.' She seemed to be okay with that answer thankfully. Just sweet, the innocence of a 3 year old. We then went to my in laws last night for dinner. My brother in law, John Mark, and his soon to be wife, Stephanie brought her flower girl dress for her to try on. She was so sweet and looked so beautiful in it! I don't know what I am going to do when she gets married!:) Or what her daddy is going to do! She got in the car when we were on our way home and I said 'Haven, you looked so pretty in your dress' and she said 'Can I hold Cambron's hand?' Her cousin Cambron, is goign to be a ring bearer, and she is so excited to go down the aisle with him!:) It will be a beautiful wedding! Everyone is excited about the upcoming event! Stephanie is a sweetheart and her and JM are so sweet together. They remind me so much of Micah and I, and the fact that they are our age when we got married. Uncanny!
Well, enjoy the rain today. On our way to work this morning, Haven and I saw a rainbow. She was so excited and we named all the colors we saw in it, and thanked the Lord for the beautiful creation. Speaking of the Lord, Haven had something that was hurting her this weekend, and after awhile, she said 'Mommy, it feels better!' And I said, 'Thank you Jesus for healing Haven!, Haven, can you say thank you to Jesus for making your owie feel better?' And her response was, 'Mommy, Jesus isn't here'.:)
Have a great day! Isn't it awesome that our God is always with us, no matter what!?!
Kara

Dreams

On my day off yesterday, I cleaned out Haven's closet and got rid of a bunch of stuff she didn't use or need. I also switched her summer clothes with fall/winter. We took a few things to the Salvation Army and I explained to Haven why we were taking her toys 'away'--I told her that there were kids who didn't have a lot of toys or things to play with and we were giving them to those kids. She said 'Okay mommy'. So that night when Micah got home and we were eating dinner, we were telling him about our day and what we did and she said 'We took my toys to kids'. And Micah asked why and she said 'Because they didn't have any'. And it just made me realize that she isn't a baby anymore, that she is growing up and she does realize what I am saying, even though sometimes I don't give her as much credit b/c I forget about how smart she is. I am just praying that she comes to know Him at an early age and is able to bring Him glory through all she says and does.
Okay, I am a believer in the Lord speaking to us through our dreams, it's just sometimes, when they seem so real and vivid, and it's something that you have been wanting, sometimes you don't know if it's just you or Him. I had a really vivid dream last night, one that was so real, I woke up so sad and almost 'empty' inside. I prayed about it immediately, I just don't know if it was from the Lord or not. It was just really hard because it's one of those things that just stays with you all day and that is all you think about. I have just been giving it over to the Lord and trusting that He knows my heart.
Enjoy the weather this weekend--
Kara

Milestones

My sweet daughter got to spend the day with her Nana G yesterday while I got to go to Barnes and Noble after my morning Bible Study and read my Bible and then just chill out for a few hours. She rode home with Micah and I asked how her day went and what she did. My mom said she asked her if she had Shrek 2, and mom told her no, and she said 'That's okay Nana, you can borrow mine.' Too sweet, but she asked yesterday morning in the car if she could say 'Shut Up' and I told said 'No ma'am, where did you hear that from?' She said 'Shrek said it'. So I told her that we aren't going to be watching those any more and that we shouldn't say things just because other people say them. Then yesterday evening, Haven and I took a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up something while daddy had a breather and some quiet time after work, and she said 'Mommy, can I say darnit' and I said no, knowing that if I asked the question where she heard it from, I would be very sad. Sure enough, she said 'Mommy, you said it'. In my heart, I just felt sad and I apologized to her and asked if she would forgive me, as I shouldn't say that. And then I got to thinking, even though I don't think it's a bad word, when your 3 year old says it, it just sounds so yucky and just a reminder of what we say truly does go in one ear and stays there! So we are working on what we say and how we say it these days. She is getting so grown up and the other day she pooped in the potty at Ms. Katherine's house, which was a HUGE thing for us. So we are working on that and she got in the car that afternoon when I picked her up and the first thing she said was 'Mommy, can I go to school now?' I had told her she couldn't go to school since she went poo poo in her panties/pull up. So, since she went once, she wanted to go right then! I think that she will definitely be a school girl, a little socialite, yet sensitive and cautious at the same time.
So, that is what has been going on lately. We are hoping to go to the U of A campus this weekend to Old Main to take some fall pictures in the leaves and let Haven (and possibly Gage) play and run around. Too fun! I'll try to get some pictures posted soon!
Have a blessed week,
Kara

Walker, Texas Ranger

Okay, so many of you may not know, but I am a Walker, Texas Ranger fan. You know, Chuck Norris and all his karate moves. They cancelled the show a few years ago and then showed re-runs on the USA network which I watched regularly. Now, on Sunday, they made a TV movie and it rocked! I am such a big fan of fighting movies. (i.e. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, Hero)Those kind of movies, action, not just guns and shooting. Anyway, it was really good and I watched it last night since we didn't get a chance to watch it on Sunday. I can't believe how old Chuck Norris is and he is still in shape. He is like in his middle 60's I think. In the show, he had a daghter and he had married the assistant DA Alex. Well, she got shot last night at the very end of the show and crumpled to a heap on the floor, so you know that there will be another one. YAY!! Anyway, I guess it's quite sad that I am so excited. Micah was like, 'Ugh, I don't really care' but I actually couldn't sleep after watching b/c I was trying to figure out what was going to happen in the next one.
Enough of that, I am going to be going to a family reunion this weekend. Not too thrilled, but I haven't been in a few years and they have it every year, so I feel like I need to go this year. It's in Oklahoma, and my cousin Erin will be there, so that helps a lot, so we can keep each other sane through the whole thing. I'll let you know how it goes. I am just praying that I can share with others how good the Lord is. My mom got home from Israel on Tuesday afternoon and she is doing good. She will be there as well, so we'll get to catch up somewhat and she'll be able to share about her trip.
Have a great weekend!!
Kara

Kids say the Darndest Things...

Okay, everyone has said 'You need to write that down' of some of the things that Haven has been saying lately. But when she says them, it's so hard to really remember, becuase we are usually in the car or some random place where I don't have a pen and paper on hand. Today, we prayed before lunch, and she said 'Mommy, you have to pray like this' (and closed her eyes) So, I prayed with my eyes closed. explaining that you can in fact pray with your eyes open, Jesus hears us no matter what! She has also been pulling up her shirt at random times (when it's just me and her and Micah, thank the Lord) and saying 'Mine are little', referring to her chest. Not sure how that got started, but we have discussed only to say that at home with just mommy. She is also starting to say some not so sweet things like when I pick her up to put her in her car seat and she doesn't want to go 'Mommy, put me down!and growl a little for effect. But it's mainly sweet times, when she danced for Micah and I in the living room the other night to her praise and worship CD for kids. Or when I watch her with babies. You can definitely see that will start to come out--I'm just thankful the Lord sustains me, even during these crazy times where I don't know how Haven is really going to turn out. Only the Lord knows. We were talking in our Bible Study this morning about how the Lord knew us when our moms were pregnant with us, and how He could see us blanketed in the womb, sucking our thumbs, and just how HE knows us that much, He is waiting to pour out His blessings on us if we only believe He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do in His time.
Better go. It's very quiet back in Haven's room. Usually means something is up....
Keep believing,
Kara

It's Official

Okay, it's official, the Razorbacks truly do ciphen this year. They lost to Auburn Saturday 34-17. Yuck! But, hey, I'm still loyal, just a loyal, frustrated fan like many I'm sure out there. Other than that, it was a good weekend. Got my hair cut, watch Haven dance around the living room Friday night to her music. Helped do some painting for my aunt on Saturday for her upcoming sale in November. Every year she and some other ladies have a sale and put in painted furniture, and other homey stuff. So, that has been fun. Then we went over to my in laws yesterday for lunch and Haven enjoyed playing outside on the trampoline with her cousin Cambron and her other Nana. So, all in all, a good weekend. The weather was pretty crazy, high 70's during the day. My hubby has a blog now. If you care to check it out, it's http://www.micahlaney.blogspot.com. A lot of it is over my head, but I just leave comments for him.:)
Have a great week!
Kara

Nana G and Haven

This is my mom and Haven at the Tulsa zoo for Mother's Day 2004. My mom is in Jerusalem right now for a prayer gathering. There are over 250 nations represented and it is a time of ministry and prayer. My dad is missing her a lot! She has been gone for about 2 weeks now and arrives back this coming Tuesday. Haven has enjoyed praying for her Nana G and thinks it's neat to get to ride on an airplane! So, if you think of it, if you could say a little prayer that the Lord would continue to work through her to minister to the pastors and countries represented and for safety on the flight home.
God is good!
Kara
PS-Happy Birthday Erin! I love you!!

Finally!!

Okay, so finally the HOGS win this weekend! We were all excited to learn about it, although they played Louisiana-Monroe, sometiems you just never know with the HOGS these days. Another favorite team, for Micah, the Braves, lost in the 18th inning, by a score of 7-6. I was told this was a first time thing for the play offs. They are now out of the play offs and he was pretty bummed. But hey, at least our HOGS pulled one out!
Haven is finally feeling better too. She started not feeling well Thursday with a fever, and then it turned into a yucky cough with stuff coming out of her nose...we stayed home Friday so she could get well, and she still didn't start really feeling good until last night. It's so hard to see them sick, especially with Haven, she just wanted me to hold her and watch movies, she didn't even say a whole lot or play much. Sad stuff. But this morning on the way to work, she noticed there was water on the car, from it being so cold this morning. She asked 'Mommy, it isn't raining outside, but there is water on the window'. Pretty smart stuff from a 3 year old. It amazes me every day just how smart they really are and how they think. (or sometimes don't think)
We were able to get out a little Saturday to see my cousin who was in town for the weekend. We went to the Flying Burrito. Good stuff! It was good to see her, although, short. And she also got to see Haven, which I think made her weekend! So it was a pretty good weekend, beautiful weather, and the HOGS won!
Have a great week!
Kara

Orange Juice and Baby Dolls

Yesterday was my day off from work and Haven and I spent time together at home after Bible Study. We ate lunch and then played a little bit. I was doing something (can't remember) and she said 'Mooom, come here.' So I went back to her room, and she said 'Look what Haven did' with her sweet little face. I looked, and she had poured orange juice all over her baby dolls, on her rocking chair, rocking horse, and her doll house. I had to wash doll clothes yesterday! Agghh! I really think that 3, for me at this time, is worse than her being 2! And she's only be 3 for a month!! So, I am really praying that the Lord would supernaturally give me the grace and patience to respond the way I need to. She also hasn't been taking her naps, which doesn't help at all! I know she still needs them, by the fits she throws for literally no reason. She also likes to throw things when she is in a bad mood. (like throwing my keys in the front of the car from her car seat in the back seat)But other than those things, she truly is a joy and makes me laugh by the things she says, and I am trying to just continue to instill in her what I need to. And hopefully, some of this is normal for her age too. (I hope)
So, it's nice to have a little break today, although Katherine assures me that she is really good for her at her house, and obeys, except for those few incidents.
But I love her all the same and would do anything for her! God is good all the time!!
Kara

Cousins and Best Friends

This is my cousin and best friend, Erin. I don't know that I have talked about her before, but thought I would today. Her birthday is October 13th, but she is coming home this weekend to hang out! She lives, for the moment, in Norman, Oklahoma. She is involved in Student Mobilization on the campus of OU, Oklahoma University. (GO HOGS!!)The Lord has provided a new home for her with some room mates and she has been really enjoying it more than when she first moved. It was an adjustment. I am so thankful that she is adjusting better and has some new friends--speaking of, I mentioned she is my best friend. We grew up together and have always been close. She is about a year and a half older than me--she stayed at our house every day when she was little and played with me and my brother while her mom worked. We have always been close-done stuff together, she would get mad at me when we 'sang' Amy Grant songs and I didn't sing the right words. Good 'ol 80's! We went on vacations together, and still do sometimes, but I miss her a lot!! We did a lot more when she was here, having game nights and Taco Soup, but now we get by with phone calls and e-mails. She is Haven's second mom, and Haven loves her and vice versa. I am so blessed that I have a best friend and a cousin--we laugh and are silly-crazy!! It's like we are kids again when we get together because we are always laughing at something, Micah makes fun of us!:)
So, Erin, if you are reading this, I love you and can't wait to see you this weekend! I know you aren't 20 minutes away anymore and we can't have our game nights like we used to, but I am so thankful that you are where the Lord has you to be. I am so thankful for our history that we have and being best friends and just being silly togehter, no matter what our age!!:) You will always be my best friend and I pray that God would continue to light your path and mold you---that the OU students would see Him radiating through you, as I do, but that you would also have the boldness to just speak what He has you to say!!
I love you. See you soon,
Kara