My sunshine

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

So please don't take my sunshine away

Happy birthday Abigail Faith!

 You amaze me daily at the kind, (so very) smart, loving, hilarious, gorgeous, Godly young woman that you are coming to be. I thank God for you every day and I always will. 

Being your Mom has helped make me into the person I want to be. 

Happy 7th birthday, and many many more, baby girl!

Day 6, 7, and then I lose count

Let's wrap things up, shall we?

Day 6- Big Girl alarm clock day

this probably seems totally trivial to anyone else, but let me tell you, she was pumped about this alarm clock! She has been asking for one for as long as I can remember, and I figured she is old enough now to wake up on her own in the mornings w/out Mom going in and doing it. Plus it lights up, which = awesome in the land of 6 year old's.

Day 7- Ice Skating Day

This was probably the highlight of our whole 12 days. She starts lessons this week, so she has been just dying to get out there on the ice and give it a try!

And of course we figured we would just make a family day out of it!

Day 8 - Play Date

She got to go on a special playdate, and they played for hours dressing up, globing on make-up and fingernail polish, and dancing around. We all had a great time!

Day 9 - Back to school haircut

This was the first time that she went to a real salon, and honestly she wasn't that impressed. I was disappointed that they didn't style it for her, but the cut itself is very very cute!

And of course little brother needed one too

Day 10 - Last day of swimming lessons

Day 11 - New shoes day

G-Mom buys all the grandkids new shoes every school year, and these are the one's miss priss picked out this year!

Super cute little Jessica Simpson's, love it!

and Jaxon picked out these cute little Sperry's

Thanks G-Mom!! :)

We were supposed to have one last pizza/movie party on day 12 (yesterday) before school started, but unfortunately someone got in trouble and lost that privilege, along with a few others (including the fantastic light-up alarm clock!) So sorry, no pictures for the last day! 

But the good news is that it all led up to this...

My big girl's first day of 1st grade! 

I am so proud of my sweet girl, and the little lady she's becoming! I love you Abigail Faith!

xoxo

"don't live for approval"

i caught the end of a sermon on daystar today, from a pastor that i don't routinely watch. i don't agree with everything that he teaches, but i really agreed with the words that he had for me today.

"you don't have time to try to convince everyone to like you. your destiny is too great to waste time fighting battles that don't matter. if somebody doesn't celebrate you, move on. if they walked away, you didn't  need them. if they didn't give you their approval, don't worry about it, you have god's approval. playing up to people takes a lot of energy and trying to keep everyone fixed and happy is very draining. wondering what everybody thinks of you is exhausting. theres a freedom when you realize 'i don't have to compete for anyone's approval, i can just run my race focus on my goals be my best and god will take care of the rest."

i really need to incorporate this way of thinking into my life. i spend a lot of time wondering if the choices i make and words i say will set right with everyone, and when they don't, i take it personally. as long as i'm living my life the way the lord has called me to, and i'm pleasing him, it shouldn't matter if it makes everyone else happy! 

okay...i'll get off my soapbox now.

in other news...the kids birthday party was a success! pictures are not quite ready yet, but rest assure that there will be a blog soon to follow the arrival of the pictures, by my good friend megan! but in the meantime, here's a small preview of the b i r t h d a y  g i r l ' s outfit

just a little "sneak-a-peak" as abigail would say

also, i'm reading 5 conversations you must have with your daughter

and loving it so far! i'm only into chapter two (it's been a busy week!) but let me tell you, i've cried twice already. probably not surprising to my husband, ha. if you have a daughter from age zero to eighteen, you need to get this book! like.... now! 

i read bringing up girls over the summer, and was honestly a little overwhelmed at the challenge ahead of us as parent's of a sweet little girl. not that i didn't know we had our work cut out for us, but the book highlights areas and conversations that i haven't even thought about yet, and dives way deeper into them than i realized was necessary. another great read, get this one too while you're at it!

i hear little voices down the hall, which means nap/rest time is coming to an end, and that snack time is nearing.

they get pretty mean a little upset if they have to wait too long for snack. so i better hurry up and get it on the table!