Pella's Dedication

On February 26th we dedicated our sweet little Pella pie to the Lord at Lake City Community Church.

We chose Psalms 19:7-11 for Pella.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Dada read Pella's passage and Pastor Jim prayed over her and our family. It's a quick little ceremony, but so sweet and meaningful. I'm so glad we take time as a church family to bless our little children and pray for them to grow in the Lord. It was wonderful to have our families there to support us and agree to help us raise our children in the Lord too!

Grandma, Grandpa, Nonnie, Dodie, and the Mc Phollands were able to join us for a little celebration lunch at the Great Cuisine of India after the service.

We also took the kids picture this day in their new, matching, baby dedication, Easter, whatever holiday comes next outfits that Dada bought for me. I love matching! But it usually takes me many, many trips to the thrift stores to find something, or sew something, and I get all stressed over it. I'm crazy that way. This year, my sweet hubby took me to Old Navy and without looking at price tags let me (made me) pick something out. So since they were all dressed up, and clean, I decided it would also be picture taking day, and while we didn't get the perfect family photo, the one of the kids turned out great!

Pella's Murder Mystery Baby Shower

On February 17th, the Schocks threw us an amazing murder mystery baby shower for Pella! They've thrown us a Victorian one for Opal and a redneck one for Berg, this time we went to the Old West! They went to such great detail our invitations were even Western Unions.

I was still sick so I slept the entire day so I would have some energy for this fun night. Peter rented us some great costumes. He had to buy a mustache and beard, because facial hair is his new fun costume of choice I guess. Peter was Rick O'Shea, a deputy, and I was April Showers, a saloon girl who worked at the Cactus Gulch Hotel and Saloon.

John (Phillip DeGlas, my son) was the bartender and Shari (Babs E. Goat) was a governess for the hated Marv Ellis, played by Jeremy. They had turned their house inside out for this event. The living room was transformed into a saloon complete with a bar and wagon wheel chandeliers!

After socializing in our western roles, ordering drinks from the bar, chili and cornbread eating and figuring out who everyone was and what they had been up to, the evil Marv was found dead on the back porch!

Rick O'Shea and Dusty Rhodes (Tung) share a special moment. This should've been a clue for us all about the murder, but none of us caught on. Peter just can't say no to a good mustache.

We all chatted again and tried to figure out who killed Marv. We were all pretty happy he had died, he had given me a black eye earlier.

Dusty Rhodes (Tung) ended up being the one to strangle Marv Ellis with Candie Cain's (Marion) stocking. The part that no one figured out was that Dusty killed Marv to protect her sister Dee Railed (Hope) from his advances. Yes, her. Dusty was…a woman! So we took a portrait of all the girls together. Even the murderer. You can see Tung's feminine beauty now that he doesn't have on his mustache.

The four way tie between Watts E. Dunn (Tony), Bea Frank (Nicole), Rick O'Shea (Peter) and Rev. Happ E. Dey (Tim) in guessing the murderer was solved with a drinking contest. A club soda drinking contest!

Tony downed his in about .5 seconds. It was amazing!

No one else even got close! So, Tony was the winner of the murder mystery, but Jeremy, although he died earlier in the night and was hated by all, won the chili cooking contest!

Our Lake City friends who attended the mystery, in costume, and brought delicious food, and acted out some silly western parts were really great sports!

A murder mystery baby shower is definitely the best way to celebrate a baby! Fun, friends, food, fantasy and oh yes, let's not forget...Baby Pella! Thank you so much, Schocks, for a wonderful night full of fun memories!

Opal's Jewelry Party!

For her 4th birthday party our little Opal wanted a Jewelry Party! We were going to have it at our house, but then realized it was going to be very squishy in our little home with all those people. Lake City let us use their super cool chapel room, it used to be the original sanctuary once upon a time. I'm so glad we thought to move it to the church because come February 10th, I was a mess! I had no energy to clean our house let alone host a party. I was so sick. But the party was already planned and Nonnie and Poppie were only here for one more day, so we went through with it. Good thing I had everything ready to go before hand! Opal decorated her store bought cake with jewelry and Ju Ju Bees herself!

When all of our friends arrived, Nonnie explained how to find jewels in the Opal Mine so they could buy a jewely box to paint and jewelry candy to eat.

The little kids went into the mine first and searched through the shredded paper to find their jewels.

Then everyone purchased and painted their jewelry/treasure boxes at the painting table.

Opal, of course, painted hers pink!

Thankfully, she had wanted pizza for dinner anyway, so I didn't even have to think of making anything. Except for the salad which my Momacita made - good thing they were here!

We all sang "Happy Birthday" to our Opie-O and after a couple of tries she blew out her candles.

Dada ran the whole party and kept everything going and everyone entertained, he's so wonderful! I did join in on the birthday song and traditional birthday kiss and group picture. Then I went right back to laying on my van seat in the back of the room.

Opal was so sweet, she kept coming over to me, stroking my hair and telling me that she loved me. I hate missing out on fun things, but I knew canceling the party at the last minute and trying to reschedule and having her wait longer would be even more of a pain. I'm glad she was so happy through the whole party and felt so special and even took time to come to my little corner to see me. (This was my view throughout the whole party.)

She opened her presents while everyone ate their cake and ice cream!

All of Opal's friends made her feel so loved and cherished! She received so many lovely gifts (I have no idea who gave her what!) and had such a fun time and she now has five times as much jewelry as she did before! She's a happy girl!

I don't know what happened, but our Opal is a different girl! She turned four and she decided it's time for a change. I praise God for her happy heart and obedience now!

Opal you are such a joy to have in our family! You've changed so much now that you're four. I know it's taken a lot of hard work to obey right away, have a happy heart and take care of your baby brother and sister - but you've been amazing! It's fun to watch you grow in loving others and see you chose to share and help out all on your own! You are a great reader (almost done with your Phonics level 1 book), print your letters so well, and are a super star with a spray bottle and rag cleaning the kitchen. You are so beautiful - with or without your jewelry. You are our little jewel, our Opal. We love you so much and can't wait to see what other changes and characteristics God brings about in you as you grow in Him! Happy Birthday, Opie! Love, Mama and Dada