check this out

here is a little cultural lesson about papakura new zealand. click here check this out. thanks a lot mr. read for this link.

tongan youth retreat

cultural dances, singing, food, and lots of new friends. we had a great weekend and some new and interesting experiences. cail made lots of friends and averie was the most popular with her blue eyes and chubby cheeks!!! glad to be home but off again to go camping with the harkness fam. more pictures later! enjoy these.

day at the park

do keep in mind this is dec. for all of you who are accustom to cold snowy days in dec this may be a shock. it is to us that's for sure, but we are loving it.

play house

here we are playing in the house mommy made us. she says she never knew banana boxes could be so much fun!!!!

who is santa anyway???

check out my friend's sew funky blog. her family celebrates st. nicholas day and i think it is a great idea. maybe a good trend for those of us who have little ones!!!! it helps us to remember why we really celebrate christmas. let me know what you think.

dinner @ the bowlin's

see if you can guess what we had for dinner???





after dinner we went to get the mail and found thanksgiving cards from grandma martin and auntie ali!!! this is cail reading her card. she loves cards. she tried to take mine the other day and claim it as her own. mamaw and papaw sent a princess card for her birthday and she carries it around everywhere.

josh's trip part 2

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

josh's trip part 1

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

this may take a while to load but it's fun!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

carols in the park

sounds fun eh!!!

well, let me tell you, it was HOT. i'm still trying to get the hang of a summer christmas. we sang snowy cold christmas songs while sweating, sitting on the green grass at the park and squinting into the hot sun!!! then i had to go get a coffee because when the sun went down the breeze picked up and it was cold. cail's lips were turning blue and i had goosebumps, but of course little averie was still sweating. she takes after daddy in the body temp department!!!! by the time we were ready to go home the crowd had multiplied to near a thousand people, the music was still going and sounding great, and the temp had dropped so it felt a bit more like the christmas season.

cail got to paint an angel christmas ornament, eat a fruit kabob, dance to the hip hop dance group, and we are one more step into the christmas swing!!! oh, and she got to go up on stage with edgar when he did the opening greeting. she looked a little intimidated by all the people, and didn't have to say anything but she sure looked cute (that's her mama's opinion anyway). to bad daddy had to work, we sang extra loud so he could here us all the way at youth group!!!!

more weird and wacky stories from our summer christmas experience later. ta-ta

daddy's home

home safe and sound. tired and worn from all his long travels but home. cail was watching at the door all day today and every time the phone rang "daddy?" i cannot wait to see how she reacts in the morning when he is here.

pictures, stories, and happy faces tomorrow...

p.s.

this is one of those stories that i should not share about myself but.....
i decided to give myself a facial while i was posting the last two entries. i put on a peel off mask. i guess i didn't realize how long it was taking me and by the time i got back to the sink it was way past the peel off stage (maybe chip off with a chisel stage). i had to wet it in order for it to peel. the add on the front of the packet said something like, radiance is just below the surface. i hope i didn't peel all the radiance off because that facial sure went way below the surface....

as cheesy as this is going to be i have decided to say it anyway (kinda like telling those stories that make people question my true hair color.) staying on course with the "going below the surface" theme. i have really had a great time while josh has been away to do some self reflection. it is scary what you can find when you start doing that. i have realized that just below the surface is a fun loving carefree spirit in me that is waiting to be let out. i just need to learn to push aside that top layer of worry. i have taken more time to play with the girls and read an extra book at bedtime. sit down at the table and eat with them or do something silly just to make them laugh. i have learned through the lack of josh's help that if everything is not done by the end of the day it just isn't going to get done. if i am stressed before i even get out of bed in the morning about the amount of things to do that day i just need to cut something out. these are hard concepts for me to learn because apparently i don't like to stop worrying. i feel like i have to get everything done in one day and like my husband i have a hard time saying no even when i really can't.

so i have discovered a little more about my body art (previous post) and i think the picture is turning out to be a bit better.

anyway my advice for the day, slow down and enjoy it...
and beware of facials and blogging at the same time ;)...

day 11

we went to the otara markets today. it is new zealand's largest open air market. i also read one place that is is the worlds largest polynesian markets. i guess auckland has the worlds largest polynesian population so it very well could be. we walked around for about an hr. it was so hot, it felt like cedar point in the middle of summer!!! it was cool to see all the stalls with clothes, jewelry, food, fruit and veggies, toys, handmade crafts, o.k. pretty much anything you could think of. the island music was blaring loud and everyone was having a great time.

our girls really got a lot of attention. they do all the time but there is something about island people, they love children. it is a cool part of their culture. we had to keep stopping so people could admire the girls. cail was even cute enough to bargain a guy into a three dollar hat. she was standing there with me and looking at the hats. we found a pretty pink straw hat and she said she wanted it for thwee dollas . the guys must have heard her say it because we started to walk away and she was still talking about it so i turned and asked the guys how much. he says three dollars. well how could i say no then. they had already worked out a deal. all that was left was for mom to fork up the coin.

it was a great day and we didn't get sunburn!!! way to go mom. i remembered sunscreen, and hats (well i thought i had a hat for averie but it gave me an excuse to buy her a cute new hat!!). this is a big deal you see because i have never really had summer babies before. we have been in a never ending winter and so i know how to bundle a baby with lots of warm layers. but sun gear???? this is all new!!

cute story. tonight when i was putting cail to bed she randomly burst into song as she often does. she sings luuuuub you, peck, lub you neck, uh peck, uh neck... by then i was laughing so hard she started laughing. it was really cool to have her start singing a song we always sing all on her own. it was the cutest version i have ever heard.
i love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck...

we heard from josh and jeff. they were on there way back to png tonight. this is the first leg of the journey. they will be staying overnight in png and then to aussie and home tomorrow. we really cannot wait!!!

off to bed to get some rest for a long long day tomorrow (they fly in at 12:30am that is if the plane is on time.)...

day 10

happy thanksgiving again!!!

we went to the jones' house for a day of fun. we were talking, cooking, playing with the kids (a 3 yr. old, 2 yr. old, 1 yr. old and a 7 month old. wow!!!). we were busy but happy. we ate lots of food and enjoyed the sun. what? yes the sun. on thanksgiving day we had sun and 68*F. it was the hottest weirdest day i have ever had considering it is supposed to be a cold winter day with possible snow showers. it was a fun way to make it through the day.

all the rest of the americans there were ringing home to wish family and friends a happy day but i just couldn't. so, sorry to all who may have wondered where the bowlin's were. i was pretty homesick and really missing josh as well (he comes home midnight tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). i wanted to wish all a great day but i thought i would not be able to do so without a river of tears so i waited until the day after. i think i may have missed a few due to shopping though, so i will have to try tomorrow.

i feel better now and am on the home stretch for josh's return. i think i better clean the house so he doesn't know what it looks like now. i guess it's not too bad after 10 days of being a single mom. maybe i should leave it really messy so he thinks it has just been a crazy time here. no, i guess i want it to be clean that way if he goes away again he won't be afraid to come home :)

on to the cleaning...

day 9

thanksgiving feast @ the bowlin's. 1st thanksgiving for 8 out of ten in attendance.

i just realized this fact before dinner tonight. 1st for averie because it is her first year of life but also for all the kiwi's. it made all the old traditions and foods that i am so familiar with seem new and exciting. stringing popcorn with the read girls, cail and joanne. eating sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie as if it were for the first time. it helped the day be as special even so far from home.

menu american and kiwi

becca brought...
turkey(thanks to the great hunter josh!!!! some of the best meat i have ever had by the way)
cranberry sauce
wild rice stuffing
green beans
sweet potatoes
corn bread/ corn bread casserole
pumpkin pie (not the one pictured above i am not that good)

dione brought...
salad greens with red cherry tomatoes (beautiful and festive)
mixed veggies
honey glazed carrots
maori potatoes (purple inside)
pavlova with kiwi fruit
cranberry spice muffins

ryleigh brought..
frozed chocolate dipped bananas (yum yum, averie really liked chewing on them!!!)

if i have forgotten anything, rest assured our tummies didn't miss out. we had fun eating and sharing the things we were most thankful for. oh, we all had fancy glasses to drink out of (picture later) so joanne brought along some sparkling grape juice and we all made up toasts. afterwards all us girls did the dishes, jonathan slept on the couch, and dione looked after the babies. it was just like it would have been back home. all the family hanging out, no hurry to get anywhere and enjoying each others company!!! thanks to my american family for building these traditions into my life, and thanks to my kiwi family for sharing them with me this year.

there were only a few tears today over missed family members (spread out over a couple countries). i was surprisingly able to hold myself together and still have a fun day. thank-you Jesus for the strength of emotions today. now for tomorrow when it really is thanksgiving back home. i will wish them all a happy one, share my happy stories from here and enjoy another yummy meal. this time with americans who have all experienced it before. still just as much fun and hopefully just as much food.

off to take a nap....

day 8

i think today was my breaking point for being without a husband. after a stressful night at youth group, today seemed so long. the girls were great at our global partners meeting. so that was a great time out, but i think i really am feeling the tiredness that being a single parent must bring. my hat is off to those who do this alone.

i value my husband more and more everyday he is away and i pray i will be more patient and kind to him when he gets home. i think as wives and mothers we can easily get frustrated with the lack of things our husbands do. it seems easier somedays to be annoyed at them then be truly thankful for all they do. this time away has taught me to step back, not get stressed if one thing or another doesn't get done, and to appreciate what josh does (and tell him). thanks God for that reminder about what a great man i did marry.

cail and averie seem to be becoming greater friends every day. cail cannot wait to go see awee every morning. tonight in the bath i took averie out first and she was stretching up to see cail over the side of the tub. she screams as loud as she can to get cail's attention and laughs whenever she comes and talks to her. cail loves to play peek-a-boo with averie, talk baby talk to her and kiss her on the head (she also like to steal her toys, hit her, and push her till she topples over-but that's beside the point). they are really becoming the kind of friends they are going to need through the years. once again i think of my little sis and am grateful for our friendship. thank you God for that reminder that i have such sweet babies and for a great relationship with my sister.

i wanted to string popcorn for the tree this week but was not sure how it was going to go with a two year old. i decided i would work on it tonight while i had some friends over. come to find out they had never heard of it let alone treaded popcorn on stings (no cranberries though. someone told me i would be hard pressed to find them this time of year). these 20 something year old ladies where so excited about helping me. it became one of those memory making moments. we even had a hanging ceremony!!!! anyway i think i will try a supervised version of that with cail tomorrow, but now i don't have to stress if it just doesn't work with her!

counting down the days till daddy gets back!!!!!

day 7

well, just one month till christmas!!! we officially have our miss miss twee up in our lounge. i started out trying to make it look organized and beautiful, resorted to having fun, got a funky looking tree. the ornament that i have just spent three days making (sewing by hand) for cail was presented to her with love. she was given the choice as to where she would like to place it on the tree, where did it go? in the very back!!!!!!!!! she was excited because she likes climbing behind the tree but i was a bit sad because no one will ever see it. oh well it is where she wants it.

cail has decided that she wants to go to the airport and find daddy. not in a few days but now. i was given a tip today of making a chart or using the calender and putting a sticker on each day until daddy comes. i hope this will help her to see when daddy is coming and not just hear "in a few days", whatever that might mean to her.

averie loves the christmas tree. she sat in front of it staring at the lights and squeeling away. she was scooting along this evening on her bottom to get closer to the tree. this should be fun (keeping her out of and) watching her explore this new addition.

by for now...

day 6

Hey Honey,

Good to hear back from you! We are now in Port Moresby and will be heading to Bougainville in the morning (5 am!!!). Everything has gone very well-had a great meeting up in Mt. Hagen today w/2 youth leaders that have amazing potential of carrying the YM of Bougainville to the next level! Everything has been great...it was good to meet the Floyds and the Keilholtz's-both are very long term missionaries here in PNG! Safety has been no issue (other than the dodgy flight in and out of Fugwa, but no more small planes on this trip-so no worries!). We will be out of contact until the night before we get home-so I just wanted to say hello-I love you-and kiss/cuddle my girls for me!!! I really miss you guys and can't wait to see you in a weeks time! I'm glad you have had people to chat w/and that everything is going well!

I Love You Very Much!,
Josh


so no more contact until the 29th :( that needs a sad face. we have been busy here though so hopefully the time will fly. cail had a play date today with a little boy from our church named mako. it was fun to go and play at his house and we learned again about sharing and playing nicely with others (challenging for adults let alone 2 year olds). there was a bit of pushing pulling and screaming but over all we had a great time. cail was not the only one being picked on either, she did her share of fighting back. i am not sure how to get her to understand that hitting is not a game. she just plays rough and hitting is her new thing this last week. oh where oh where has my gentle little baby gone?

she has turned into a fun, energetic, laughing little girl! she cracks me up with the stuff she comes up with. still thinks santa is noah, baby Jesus is averie, the shepherd boy is tail dwace (cail grayce), will not eat stir fried cabbage because she thinks it's skin (i don't know where she got that from yuck), loves broccoli, hates green beans, and sings all day long!!! she sure is a joy.

what the angels sing to Jesus-
growy da Dod in da highest wees on da if and da da da da men.
translation-glory to God in the highest. peace on the earth and good will to men!

averie has discovered she has a tongue. she sits with her tongue out all day long, bah bah bahing and making all other sorts of noises. last night i was giving her kisses and she started reaching up and grabbing my face to pull me in for a wide open mouth slobbery face kiss!!! somehow slobbery kisses are just what moms cannot get enough of. she also ate a whole banana, a slice of melon and a piece of bread (thats a new one) for lunch. wow she can eat a lot!!! she is just the kind of baby you want to squeeze (don't worry family back home your chance is coming soon!!!!!).

well that better be all for now. more tomorrow!

day 5

Becca,

Just wanted to let you know that the trip has been amazing (lot’s of first time experiences ) We are back in Mt. Hagen from our trip to Fugwa (MAF flights)….had a bit of a hairy landing and take off, but the trip was so well worth it! Bible College graduation was today (3 students!). We are here until Sunday and then we head to Bougainville for our remainder time before heading home to NZ. How are the girls? How are you? I will be able to check my email a few times-so if you would like-send an email to our own address and I’ll be able to respond. Well, I miss you girls-give Cail & Averie a big cuddle from dada!

Love You,
Josh

email from josh!!!

day 4

pukekohe markets today!!! this has become one of my favorite places here in nz. there were lots of yard sale kind of booths today. we saw lots of fruit, veggies, $2 shop stands, clothes, book, and snow cones ( cail had some but she decided the ice was took 'told' and she just wanted to 'dwink' the syrup)!!!! cail bought her first recorder today and played it the rest of the time we walked around. we always knew right where she was even from the other side of the market!

dione went with us, she was so great and spoiled both of the girls with little finds. cail got to pick out a change purse, she loved it so much it went to bed with her tonight. averie got a little stuffed lamb, of course she was so intrigued by the tag that i'm not sure she knew it was a lamb. i bought a few treats for the read girls as well (if your reading this you just have to wait until thanksgiving!) and had fun looking at all the how can i say it nicely? junk! junk is fun and once in a while you find something in other peoples junk that is fun for us!!

cail must have thought the one stall had all junk because just as she bent down to look at something she said "go wees" and as i turned around she was "going wees". poor girl, we forgot to take her before we started shopping and she got so carried away she forgot she had to wee!! it was embarrassing for all of us but we cleaned it up and redressed her in the middle of the crowd (carefully hidden by mama's legs of course) and went on shopping.

speaking of being embarrassed, the other day we were shopping in sylvia park (one of our larger shopping malls here in nz) and cail had to go toilet. so, i took her and thought while we were there i should go as well. of course it was a busy day with lots of others in the toilets, but cail just could not resist announcing at the top of her lungs, "yea mommy go wees!!!!!! powd of you mama." i wasn't sure weather to wait in there until everyone had left or just face the laughter! i had to laugh too though and it will be a great memory.

anyway we have had a great day and are ready for a great sunday of worship!! we heard that daddy has safely returned from his flight "into the jungle' on a small bush plane. we heard it was an interesting trip with a few bumps along the way. more on that later when i hear the whole story! he must be getting ready to leave for bougainville today from png. pray that the adrenaline won't overpower his capacity to make good decisions about safety and that he gets enough rest!! :) we love you daddy, cail says "tail sleep in mommy's bed, daddy back few days." we all miss you but we will both have such fun stories to share when you return!!!!!!

day 3

we had a beautiful day in the sun today. i managed to remember sun hats and sunscreen and none of us are burnt.

we played at caleb's house today. they both leaned about sharing and how to be a kind friends. again another hard concept to explain to 2 and 3 year olds.

we talked about missing daddy today. cail made up a little song (i didn't really catch any of the word except "miss daddy....... miss daddy...... miss daddy.")

averie is scooting herself along the wood floor, or ground, or carpet with no problems at all. now she just needs to work out how to go forward. she uses her arms and slides back but hasn't figured out that her legs are actually quite good for moving. she gets really mad when something is just in front of her and she keeps moving but can only go back. get ready when she does learn to go forward though. what am i going to do. she also knows how to wave now. she is so cute and gets so excited when she can wave goodbye to someone!!

i found cail today eating out of the sugar bowl. she had gotten a measuring spoon out of the drawer and stepped up on her stool, then proceeded to scoop spoonful of sugar into her mouth. she came into the lounge with something all over her face saying, "yummy mama!" and then ran back to the kitchen. was that sugar on her face or...? and i wonder why she is so hypo.

camera tomorrow i hope!!!

pray daddy is safe in all his short travels, and that he is getting enough rest even though he is so busy.

day 2

someone at music today asked me if i had family around to help out while josh is away. expecting a yes and surprised at my no, i added a but. but i have a great big church family that have really stepped up to look after us! if i have learned one thing in the last two days, it is that i am immensely loved and not lacking for help or support even a half a world away from my 'real' family. thank you God for good friend!!!

so as you can see i don't have a camera yet. only words once more, but i have some good ones for you.

cail woke up today again asking to "see daddy doing." we talked about the big adventure daddy is on and that he would be gone a few more days (hard concept to explain to a two year old) then she seemed fine for a few hours. she wanted to know "where's daddy gone?" as we got into the car. joanne was helping me and i think she must have thought, wait a minute shouldn't that be daddy here with us. averie doesn't really know the difference. mommy does though. i went to get up this morning and go to brush my teeth. as i sat up in bed i realize, i cannot really just leave averie here and walk away. see, josh usually has a bit of time with her in the mornings while i brush my teeth and have a shower. luckily i had taken a shower the night before, and she was happy to watch in the mirror while mommy brushed her teeth. i did realize today all the little things that josh does around the house and with the girls that i never missed until he was not here to do them. thank you daddy for being such a good man!!! (still looking for that raise though 25 emails after deleting heaps!!!)

last story of the day and probably the funnies thing i have heard in a while. cail was reading to me. as we do often now that we are in the "tail(cail) do it, no tail do it." stage. she was reading 'the prettiest christmas tree' and soon came to the page where the white bearded man is putting presents under the tree. "look, noah's put pwesents unda da twee." i just had to crack up laughing and didn't have the heart to tell her it was santa not noah. so cute. i guess we will have pwesents from noah on christmas morning this year!!! (i wonder what noah would bring?)

anyway another day gone and it was a success even without daddy. it would have been a lot more fun with him though!!

pray daddy is safe, not getting malaria ( tried to get cail to say this, another good laugh for mom) or and upset tummy.


stay tuned...

p.s.

by the way daddy, 21 emails in the first day. your secretary needs a raise!
love you

day 1

well, i didn't take into account that daddy would be taking the camera with him on this fun adventure. therefore, no picture from today but there will be some in a few days. i will be borrowing a camera soon!! so, minus the early and very sad trip to the airport this morning (which included miss averie, she woke up as we were walking out. she was awake the whole time but smiled and talked and was lovely company on the way home.) we had a great day. the girls were very good and we got a 'home day' at last. we did some finger painting, packing, playing races in the yard, and had a great time with joanne at dinner. the first thing cail said this morning though was "see daddy doing" i had to tell her that daddy went on a trip for a few days. "no daddy trip for few days" :( she was calling for him after her nap as well but other than that she doesn't seem too scarred from his absence, yet!! pressing on to day number two, looking forward to mainly music and dinner with some of our church family.

just praying daddy has made all his flights today and is not to tired from the travel and lack of sleep (he stayed up till 1 am and and had to be up at 3 am to get to the airport. he was more excited then a kid at christmas. he couldn't even sleep :)

to be continued.......

daddy

daddy is going to bouganville with jeff fussner to visit the churches there. we will miss him and may not be able to talk with him much while he is away. i thought what would be cool, is to post a picture and story every day he is away, so that when he comes home he can catch up on all he missed. so there is my challenge to myself. at least one post, every day for ten days. then you all can see a bit of our daily life and daddy will have a summary of what we did while we were missing, waiting and praying for him here in nz. he leaves on wednesday morning (early!). so keep an eye out for new post starting in a few days!!!!

dentist

first trip to the dentist. they counted her teeth and she got stickers. she was too afraid to sit in the chair at the office so i didn't get a picture there. this is when we got home. our little girl is growing up!!

where is cail?

where is that sister of mine?







not there...


i can hear her but i can't see her...





o.k. now i am mad!!!!! why does she get to stay in the bath? mamaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

candles

"what do you want for your birthday cail?" "candles!!!!!!" so we put candles in everything that day, even in her breakfast. we had a fun day full of candles, and we can't believe our little one is two.

cail on face painting

the verdict, not enough patience for a very elaborate design. but still a cute face!!!!

backwards, inside out, upside down day

here we are having our backwards, inside out, upside down day. we decided to have waffles for dinner and that started the whole idea. i have 6 girls every friday night. 2 of my own and 4 other friends. we always try and do something fun while josh is away at youth group. so, breakfast for dinner started some more creative juices flowing and we got everything turned upside down. check out the plates, the hair, the inside out dress, jeans, and the backwards shirts. we ate dessert first (root bear floats for the first time, since they don't drink root bear here) and then dinner. or should we call it brinner. they thought waffles for breakfast was a weird idea because they would only eat waffles for a dessert kind of thing. well, i guess i introduced them to a few american traditions, and we started a few of our own. heres to a fabulous backwards, inside out, upside down day!!!! thanks girls.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day(backwards as it was) the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

clay

here is my creative side overcoming my melancholic side. i have decided to decorate for Christmas even though we are trying to pack our house. a friend told me the other day that her family is going away for Christmas so we can borrow their tree and lights. wow!! that got me going and i decided to make some clay ornaments with cail. it was a real adventure. i realized about two minutes into our adventure that doing crafts with a toddler would mean that they would not look "perfect". they are perfect though. they make a perfectly amazing memory of our fun time together. clay+food coloring+babies=one big mess!!!! and lots of smiles at the end.

check out the snowman-my favorite. one arm up one arm down disco fever eh!!


Psalm 18:32
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

cail on fireworks

so, yesterday was the big fireworks day here in nz. we went to our good friends nigel and julia's house. they had their youth group around for a bbq and to set off some fireworks. fireworks are so expensive here and only on sale for three days. we decided though that it was worth all the hassle just for the reaction of our little ones. averie was asleep, but cail and nathanael couldn't have been more excited or more entertaining. cail couldn't sit still and wanted to be right next to daddy. she "helped" him set off the fireworks and cheered louder than the teens when they went off. she wasn't scared at all. when it got down to the little ones that were too dangerous for cail to be near, josh brought her to me. i said "cail come and sit with mommy." "no," she said "help daddy, help daddy!" i wish we had our camera with us. it was beautiful just watching how much she loved this new experience.



update-nappy free for another week!!!! so exciting.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

becca's body art

o.k. don't freak out yet. i am not getting a tattoo. i was inspired last night by a sermon i heard at our national conference. well, really i was inspired by the Holy Spirit, but we can give brett jones some credit for delivering the words. his challenge to us was to examine our body art. people wear tattoos in some sense to show outside a little of who they are inside. the idea was that we all in some way have tattoos, body art, that show on the outside what we are inside. what are those things in life that define me. what do others see as my body art. what other people see may not be what i want them to see, or maybe i know exactly how to show people only what i want them to see. the second part is how do we use who we are, our body art, to contribute to the whole body, the church. so i took the challenge. what does defines my life. who am i, and how do i fit in the church. what do others see as my body art, and is this what i want them to see. so here goes.

^i'm a mom (that is as far as i got last night, i need to branch out a bit more i think)

^i'm a wife, a lover of my husband trying desperately to make him a priority in my busy life. (does that make me a desperate housewife? lol) 

^i am creative, although this gets stifled by the melancholic part of my personality and once again my busy life.

^i am a lover of God. oops this one should be a bit closer to the top eh? just to let you know this is all coming right off the top of my head. i guess it shows a bit of how easy it is to let more seemingly obvious body art creep to the front and overtake what should be the most obvious. i guess this is were the photo comes in. a little unkept, a little dry and colorless, in need of some tlc. this is the kind of art that starts to show when 'lover of God' is at the bottom of my list.

Lord, help me to shift my priorities and put you as the main piece of art in becca's gallery of life. Jesus, be my artist. paint me something new today. begin again the body art that is me. 

Creator, let your creativity flow through me. give me art to give the rest of the body.  

be the center of all i do, the wind in my sails pushing me on, and the fire in my heart keeping me strong. help me to continue to discover what you want me to look like, inside and out. help me to paint life with a joyful heart. amen

1 corinthians 12:12 "the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. so it is with Christ."

to be continued......

cail on driving

o.k. so which way to the car?????? i found this picture from christmas last year. she looks so little and well how else can i say it here ditzy. uh duh, i know she must have gotten that from her mom and the cuteness from her dad right?!!!! please no comments ;)