Summer

Wow! This summer has flown by! I can't believe it is almost over! I stopped working in June to stay at home with my wonderful kids. I have enjoyed every moment of it. Especially this summer. Just being able to take them to swimming and our weekly trips to the local library. They have a summer reading program with activities once a week. Preston and Tori both enjoyed the day that Ronald McDonald visited the library to talk to the kids about books and reading. Preston sat and listened the whole time, which is great for a 2 year old. We took the kids to Coney Island last week to swim and ride the rides. They had a great time!! I also enjoyed spending some time with my parents this summer. I was able to go to two tent revivals they had. One in Clinton, Illinois in June and the other near Hamilton, Ohio in July. I was also honored to sing again with The Gabbards at the Homecoming in August. It has been an amazing summer!!

We are so proud of Tori!!! The Adams County Children's Services has a Banquet every year to honor students who have gone above and beyond for a "Kids Who Care" award. Tori was nominated by her 2nd grade teacher for this award. There were around nine students from her school who won this award. Tori's teacher explained that she is caring and loving to all other students and would do without to make sure someone wasn't left out. That she is a great student and does things throughout her community to help pthers. We are so proud of you Tori!! Matt and I took Tori to this breakfast banquet and she received her award while they read the letter from her teacher explaining why she was nominating her. It was so nice to see that Tori takes to heart the things that she learns.

A few months ago Tori had her 8th birthday and she received some money for her birthday. We have always tried to teach her that whatever money she earns or receives that she should give 10% to God and save 10% as well and then spend the rest as she wishes. Tori came to me after her birthday and said I think I want to give all my birthday money to God! I couldn't believe it. We had never told her to do that. After she saved her 10%, she gave the rest of the money to Children's Church in the offering!! I think she ended up giving around $54.00. To us that may not be a lot of money but to Tori it was all she had. I am so thnkful that she is already learning the benefits to giving to God! I know that she will truly be blessed for doing this! Tori is a special girl and I thank God everyday for her!

Happy Easter!! We had an amazing Easter Sunday. The kids had so much fun hunting Easter eggs and dressing up for Easter. I am having a few challenges however with a almost 2 year old. Easter was a challenging day for me, but none the less wonderful!! Above was the best picture of all of us together that was taken. Not so great, but even our little yorkie made the picture!! (His name is Charlie)

Tori had a friend spend the night and went to church with us. Her name is Kylie. Tori and Kylie had a great time together!!

Cutest picture!! Matt, Preston and the Easter bunny! I don't know if I love Preston's smile or Matt smiling and looking at him the best!! I do love my boys:)

Mommy and Preston. Don't really love this picture, but I know in the years to come I will cherish it. Our church keeps growing and we sit back and are so amazed at what God is doing in this small town in Ohio. We had around 450 people in attendance Sunday morning!! We were almost filled to compacity! The alter was filled with people needing a fresh touch from God. I am still amazed at how wonderful God is. I know that what's happening here has nothing to do with us...it's all God. Thank you Lord for all your blessing this Easter Season. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and for raising again! Thank for church and family. We are so blessed!!

My Grandma, Catherine Gabbard

On Tuesday February 9, 2010 I got a phone called that my Grandma, Catherine Gabbard, had passed away. I was very shocked. She had not really been sick, it was just time for God to call her home. I am going to miss her very much. On Friday February 12, 2010 we had a service to celebrate her life! And was it ever a celebration. Several of her children sang and spoke about her and how much she meant to them. She was one of the kindest, sweetest, happiest women I have ever met. I have never, not once ever heard her say a mean thing about anyone. She was always very encouraging and uplifting. I have learned many lessons from her about how to be a great mother and child of God. I wanted to share jus a few memories of her.

I remember staying at her house several times as a child. One particular time I stayed with them and I slept in Cathy's room. In the middle of the night I got very sick and the next morning she asked me, "Honey, are you alright. I heard you getting sick in the middle of the night." I wodered how in the world she had known that I was sick, but that's the kind of mother and grandmother she was. She always paid attention and loved each and every one of us. It always made me feel good when she would tell me how much she loved me and how she was proud of me for all the things I was doing for God. She just made everyone feel special.

About 5 years ago I had a gal stone and it was the most painful thing I had ever exprienced. Even after it was gone I was in so much pain and no matter what I ate it would still hurt. I went to Grandma's and she laid hands on me and prayed for me and when she touched me the power of God went through her and I felt God's power like I have never in my life felt before! What she had from God was real and I knew it!! The pain immediately left me!!

Grandma has told me this two or three times over the years since Grandpa passed in 1998. She told me that our life in like we are on stage. When the curtain goes up it is our time to shine for Jesus. So we must do all we can to further his kingdom. And when the curtain closes our time on earth is done. Reminds me of the scripture, Work while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work. Grandma and Grandpa certainly let their light shine for Jesus. I so loved spending time with them and especially talking to them about the Lord. They had such great faith and they made me feel as if I could do anything for Christ. After talking to them I could move the mountain with my faith!!

There are so many other memories of Grandma. Almost to many to share. But I am so thnakful to be the granddaughter of Roy and Catherine Gabbard. Their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Literally thousands of people are touched for Christ every week from their offspring!! From Kentucky, to Ohio, to Texas, to Missouri, to Florida there heritage lives on!! Thank you Lord for giving me such a rich pentecostal heritage. And thank you for Roy and Catherine Gabbard, who they were and what they stood for. I am who I am today because of them!

Christmas Play

Here are some pics from our church Christmas play called "A Jiminy Christmas". In the play Jiminy Cricket tries to find out the true meaning of Christmas. He asks all of his Disney friends who each have their own idea of what Christmas is really about. The "Cars" tell him that it is about the hustle and bustle, the "princesses" tell him that it is about parties (Tori was Cinderella), Peter Pan tells him that Christmas is about "Big Gifts", and Toys (from Toy Story) tell him that it is about friends, and Snow White and the seven dwarfs (Preston was a dwarf) tell him that Christmas is about Family. Then at the end an Angel comes and tells Jiminy that the true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus. Our children's pastors wrote this play and it turned out very cute. They did a great job!! Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Merry Christmas!!

These are pictures from our church Christmas Dinner. We had a Christmas karoake night. Here the kids are singing. In the second photo are my kids and my neice Alexis and my nephew Zane. The kids had a great time and also enjoyed a Christmas puppet show. I absolutley love Christmas and this year seems even more fun with two little ones. Preston just turned 18 months old and he is so excited about the lights and the Christmas trees!! It is so much fun for him. Our church Christmas program is this Sunday Night. It's a children's play about Christmas through the eyes of the Disney Characters. It is going to be really cute. Tori is Cinderella and Preston is one of the Seven Dwarfs!! Can't wait to see it!! Merry Christmas to all this year!!

Happy Fall!!!

Our church did a Trunk or Treat and the kids had a blast. It was such a nice weekend. On Friday we had beautiful weather in the 70's which is very rare for Ohio this time of year. Then Saturday our annual Trunk or Treat!! Then Sunday- two great services! Sunday night a lady received salvation and wanted freedom from a heroine addiction. We are right now in the process of getting her in a rehab. Think we have found a great one and she should be on her way there soon! How awesome that God not only saves you but he delivers you too!!! The devil has really been fighting us at every hand it feels like at times....but he knows his time is short and that what we have locked up inside of us is something that he doesn't want us to share. So I say SHARE IT...Share the love of Christ....win souls for the kingdom...that's what its all about!!! 30 days of deliverance and I can't wait to see what God does next!!!!

Our Cruise!!

Pictures from our cruise last month. We had such a great time. Just nice to not have to worry about being somewhere at a certain time, or the cell phone ringing. Relaxing is such a wonderful thing!! Everyone needs some "down time" once in a while and I was thankful that we got to take this much needed vacaction. The Lord has been so good to us and I am so thankful for what he done. God is so good!!!

The Kids

Here are some current pictures of the kids. They are getting so big!! Tori is in 2nd grade now and loves it. We are going for Basketball sign ups this weekend. She wants to try basketball. I am excited to see how much she enjoys it!! Preston is starting to talk a little more. He now says "Tori" and "Night, NIght", among other things. It is so fun watching them grow and play. My mom and I went shopping to get him a winter coat last week. He looked like the little boy in "The Christmas Story". My mom was laughing at me because I said "I'm not going to be able to carry him in this coat!" I guess its a good thing he walks now!! haha

Overdue Post

I have not posted in a while. I guess I have been to into facebook lately. It has been a wonderful summer. We took Tori to Kings Island two times and she had a blast- though these last two trips made me very nervous! She is now tall enough to ride some of the "bigger rides." I remember when I was younger how much I loved the rides at Kings Island. Now I still enjoy it, but somehow get the scared feeling more than before. I guess the thought of having two kids that depend on me makes me rethink a lot in life! Tori loved every ride, but I was scared for her. All in all she had a wonderful time.



Preston is now 16 months old and he is into everything!! So much different than Tori. We have had several "toilet" episodes in the last week. Yesterday he threw my cell phone in the toilet and Saturday I caught him with his little sock off, dipping it in the toilet!! Needless to say, Preston is not allowed in the bathroom, except for baths!!! It has been somewhat challenging-but he is SO much fun!!! Saturday he started saying "Tori"....it was so cute and so plain. Now he will not stop saying Tori. Tori thinks it is just amazing!!



Matt and I went on a much needed vacation without the kids. We went on a four day cruise to the Bahamas last month. I actually recieved the cruise free from my work!! It was a much needed blessing. We had a great time, although we missed the kids terribly. I will post pics soon!!

Pageant Time

We had our street fair in West Union last Friday night. Tori wanted to be in the "Little Miss" pageant. So, I agreed and we were able to borrow a beautiful dress. A girl from our church fixed Tori's hair and she looked so adorable!! I was so proud of her. She did such a good job and had so much fun!!

Here is Tori with daddy and Preston!

Mommy and Tori.

During the interview, they asked each child what they were going to do this summer. Tori said she is going to read books this summer. I am glad she likes to read. We have already been trying to read everyday since school has been out. I am also planning many trips to the library this summer for Tori to get more books to read. Last summer our public library had a lot of activities for kids. We took advantage of those and Tori really had a good time. Don't get me wrong, I think she is wanting to do a lot of swimming and going to Kings Island this summer also.

Tori won 2nd Runner up!! Good job Tori!!

Here she is waving at us. She is such a ham. Don't know where she gets that from!!

Tori we are so proud of you!! You are an amazing little girl, who is so sweet and kind. Daddy and I are proud to be your parents!!!

Gymnastics Recital

Tori had her Gymnastics Recital a few weeks ago. My mom was able to come and we were so excited. Tori was so happy because Grandma was able to stay all night with us and then we went shopping the next day. We had a great time. Thanks mom for coming to visit us!!
Tori did really well at her recital. The pics I had of her class actually doing their gymnastics did not come out very well. so I am not posting them. But here are a few pictures of the recital. Tori really loves gymnastics and she is very good at it. We are very proud of you Tori! We love you!!!

Happy Birthday Preston!!

Today is Preston's 1st Birthday!! I cannot believe he is one today. This has been the fastest year of my life!! We will be having a small party for him tomorrow. I sang Happy Birthday to him this morning and he just smiled at me. I know he has no idea what's going on, but I am so excited to see him eat his cake tomorrow. He is growing up way to fast! Happy Birthday Preston! We love you!!!