Hello My Name Is...

This is a random post, but sometimes there are things that just hit you in a certain way.  One thing that Jason and I spend a lot of time telling our girls is how much we love them, but even more how much Jesus loves them.  Last year was really the first year that I noticed Reese getting her feelings hurt by friends at school or feeling embarrassed about certain things.  So, at that point I began to sit her down anytime something happened and would say, 

Me: "who are you?"

Reese: "Reese Kathryn Beckner"

Me: "who loves you?"

Reese: Mommy and Daddy and Jesus

Me: "who made you?"

Reese: God

Me: "whose are you?"

Reese: God's

I just want her to remember that when life happens sometimes you need to remember who you are, whose you are, and who loves you...those are the things that matter.  

All of that said...I heard this song tonight and it spoke volumes...to me!  I need to remind myself of this...I spend too much time rehashing what I could have done better or should have done instead.  I am so grateful for these words!  Song by Matthew West!

Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside
That won’t let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
‘Til you’ve lost all belief

Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies
And I have believed them for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King

What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed, I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am a child of the one true King

My beautiful girls who are daughter of the King...may they never forget!!!

The First Day...of First Grade!!!

 Well, it's official, our baby girl is all grown up and going to Big school!  Reese started first grade on Monday!  Honestly, this entire summer I would get a sick feeling in my stomach when I thought about her going to school, so I just tried not to think about it...but it came anyway!  Last Friday we headed up to Vestavia Hill East Elementary to meet Reese's teacher.  She was really nervous and I was fighting back the tears.  I was beyond excited to meet her teacher...especially after we had about 5 friends come up raving about her to us!  Also, Reese has 3 friends from her Covenant Kindergarten in her class which is crazy, considering there are about 10 first grade classrooms and only about 8 children from Covenant at this school.

Also, one of her sweet friends that she does gymnastics with is in her class...I know that God totally handpicked everyone in that class and I could not be more thrilled!  Reese had a great first day, I wanted to walk Reese in, she wanted me to walk her in on Monday and Tuesday and she about squeezed my hand off the first day, but when I picked her up she was grinning ear to ear!

Our family has a tradition of doing "Roses and Thorns" to tell our highs and lows of the day, week, ect.  Reese said her "rose" of the day was spending time with her teacher (I love that).

Our beautiful first grader ready to go!

Jason and I tried to make last week a special week for Reese.  Jason took her out on one of their "daddy-daughter dates" and she was in heaven.  Hadley and Brynlee were both crying that they did not get to go, but their date will come soon as always.  

Reese and I did a special Mommy-daughter afternoon date...Reese's first Pedicure!  She was really excited and just like her mommy she giggled and squirmed during most of it!  We did a little shopping and had some sweet treats together!

She picked out a doughnut with the chocolate "squishing out" as she said!  After having this treat she asked if we could come here all the time...sorry sista!

Big girl in front of her school sign, beautiful smiles!

This is by far my "rose" for the week!  One of Reese's homework assignments from yesterday was to bring in 2-4 items that would fit in a brown lunch bag to help her class get to know her better.  Her teacher gave ideas like: small stuffed animals, toys, favorite candy, pictures, ect.  Reese wanted to do some pictures so I gave her a stack of about 10 pictures that were still in a stack of things I have yet to unpack in the new house  I had.  She picked out the one of she and sisters at the beach, one of the girls and Bebe and then asked for one of the dogs.  Then she put in a ceramic cross that was in her room.

I asked her if she wanted to put in a toy or something, I said you don't have to do lots of pictures.  She looked right at me and said, "none of that stuff matters, what matters is Jesus and my family!"  I was wishing I had given her a picture of Jason and myself was blown away!  I mean, don't get me wrong this girl can argue and fight with the best of them and scream over who gets what toy...but it just made me think that in her heart...she knows what matters!  

We are so proud of you Reese, you shine so bright in our family and we know that you will shine for Jesus wherever you go!

The flower girls...The progression of Hadley...Dancing

Here come the pictures...sorry there are so many but they are funny and cute...

The flower girls and ring bearer...Reese was so cute...she had her arm around Hadley the whole time

It begins...the progression of the littlest flower girl...

Sweet and tired

Tired...or mischievous?

She dumped the petals and is asking for Bebe...Bebe is rubbing her leg trying to make her feel better

Curious George trying to see what Bebe is doing

Momentarily got her wish...Bebe!

Can you find the missing flower girl?

Daddy found her

Back to Judy...ready for cupcakes

Little Miss Bryn with Nina

Hadley dancing with Miles

Reese and Miles playing around

Seriously one of my favorite pics of Reese...she was loving twirling in her dress

She looks like a little princess on her tiptoes!

So much fun!

Pulling Along...

Often, as I am pulling these cuties along (literally or figuratively)...I think about what kind of mother I am...

And while I am thinking about that...I think about what these two are going to be like when they grow up! So with those thoughts in mind...I came across this amazing quote today...and I LOVE IT! It is totally what I believe my mission in being a mom is and I only hope to work in this direction.

"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect and instruct children; to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow; to help them develop a heart for God and His purposes; and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully." - Sally Clarkson from The Mission of Motherhood