meeska mooska mickey mouse!

our theme was the mickey mouse clubhouse.

directions on how to get in.

the entrance, great for kids, not for adults.

the grub.

the gang.

fun was had by all...but a lot of work for an hour and half. but the kids were happy and that's what matters!

and a picture of the pigtails, as they were the real score of the day!

sweet 2 year old

alaythia grace turns 2 today. my sweet girl, how can she be 2 already? she was so thrilled to have a mickey mouse party yesterday. she danced and sang and laughed (pictures to come).

the big news about the day was that we got her hair into ponytails. that's right people, not just on the top, not pseudo ponytails, but the whole thing. yes, it only took us 2 years to grow hair long enough! (pictures to come).

things i love about alaythia and things she loves:

-her sweet, sweet, sweet smile. she crinkles her nose and makes her eyes real small. priceless.
-her singing. twinkle, twinkle. Jesus love me. rocket needs a home. happy birthday. she sings and gently sways with her arms in the air.
-i absolutely love her ability and desire to scare. kids, adults. you name it, she scares them!
-that when she leaves someone she says, 'bye, i love you!' (today when she was walking in the house and the neighbor kids were outside our door playing she called them each by name and then said, 'bye, i love you'.)
-you can't think alaythia without thinking cheese. she starts asking for cheese when she wakes up and she goes to bed asking for it. a staple in her world.
-her admiration of isaiah. yesterday they were watching the basketball players practice and she would watch them play, then look at isaiah and copy exactly where his hands were, his legs were, what he was doing.
-her mothering. she changes her babies poopy diapers and puts them to sleep. she cuddles and kisses them, i even catch her singing to them.
-accessories. fake lipstick, purses, sun glasses and high heeled shoes. she is all girl.
i didn't know what i was missing alaythia, before i had you. your sweetness, your care, your girly-ness. i have loved watching you grow and watching you explore the world. i pray that you will always have a soft heart toward God and what he has for you. it certainly will be my priviledge to stand beside you and witness it.

zay-man

isaiah martin turns 4 today. he was born at 7:45 pm...so technically he's not 4 yet, as he keep reminding me! i was talking to a friend a couple days ago and we were saying how we could not believe that he was 4 and that he's just so mature. then paused and both commented that we were saying that about him when he was 2!

there's a lot to say, but i'll share some of my favorite things about isaiah.

-his love for music. whether it's drums, piano, garage band, coldplay, U2 or kenny g...it's in his bones. and i love how it flows out of a worshipful heart. singing, dancing, old, new and even original songs.
-his love for his sister. he's a protector, teacher, nurturer and she gets all the benefits of that.
-his love and compassion. he's got such a sensitive heart. praying for and remembering those that are hurting...even when they've slipped my mind. crying when he realizes someone elses feelings are hurt. tangibly showing love by serving, giving and including those around him.
-his sense of humor. he's started to tell jokes, or just tries to be funny in a moment...and he is! he cracks me up.
-his BIG brown eyes. oh they melt me.
-the way he speaks truth to me. i won't go so far as to say he's a prophet :) but there has been many times when he has spoken key truths at intense moments in my life, pointing me back to Christ and what really matters.
i love you isaiah martin, and i am truly blessed to witness your life. you are an amazing young man, and it is my privilege to be your mother. remember that all that you are, all that you will be, is purely by the grace of God for his glory alone.

does anyone even read this anymore?

i wouldn't be offended if you didn't. i mean, if you don't have google reader and you come to this page every day only to find it not updated...well, i'd give up too.

but i owe you stories of the cruise, and stories there are. BUT...i'm not going to share them all. i'll just say that the cruise was not what i expected. examples...we didn't make it to cozumel as our boat's engine broke down the cruise before and so it was late docking. leaving us short on time. we went to progresso instead. never heard of it? there's a reason why.

i really could go on and on and on...and if you want the details, i'll email them to you, but i just don't feel comfortable posting them here. being that it was mixed with business.

i will say that business wise it was a smashing success. ministry was done. women were reached. that could not have gone better in my estimation. but it wasn't the vacation i think we all were expecting.

on a different note...

it's birthday week in the godshall house. isaiah's is tomorrow, alaythia's is on thursday, a combined birthday party on wednesday. good thing i have the queen of all birthday-party-throwing coming from southern california to help me. we'll enjoy a week of celebration with our good friends polly and justin. who could ask for more!

more to come this week, i promsie!

still moving

i'm back with stories to tell. but they might have to wait a few days...we're all adjusting.

-the kids did fantastically with GG.
-i felt prayers as i was surprisingly okay most of the time. apart from one total break down when i saw a mother holding her daughter on the beach...
-oh yeah, and although i'm standing on solid ground...i am still moving. swaying with the gulf of mexico.

cruisin'

you might not know that i have my own speaker's bureau business. i work for several different authors organizing and negotiating their speaking engagements and public appearances.

one of those such authors is speaking on a cruise, and when the contract was negotiated, i was included in that contract.

so i'm off, in just a few hours. on a cruise that will take me from alabama to mexico. i'm going without my husband, and without my kids. and i won't be back until monday.

the most i've been away from my kids is about 48 hours, (alaythia 24).

as a mother you long for times when you can be by yourself, have adult time. but for me, when i get those times, i LONG to be back with my kids. so while i'm beyond exicted to feel my toes again, i'm wondering how i'll do being gone for 5 days...

the thing that makes it all okay is knowing that my mother in law is coming to be with my kids in my stead. matt is busy and gone most days, instead of being carted around from place to place, they will get good GG time. and they might not even miss me at all. thanks mom for coming to take care of my babies. this trip would not be possible without you.

see you in a few days with stories to tell.

we are here, we are here, we are here!

thank you to those who thought of us during this time. thanks to those who called and checked on us. we were some of the VERY FEW that did not ever lose power. it would flicker, but it stayed on. we did lose internet, but what a small price to pay when you are warm and can feed your family.

there were many that were not as lucky, many that found shelter with family, friends, hotels or shelters. in the last two days the weather has been up in the 40's and and low 50's allowing us a little break from the cold and ice.

needless to say it was like nothing we'd ever seen or experienced before. pictures to come.

as i was looking out the windows of my house, huddled together with my family, i could not help but think of cozumel, mexico...and how i will, very soon, be there.

what?! more on that to come...