Ashlee's Graduation from National Charity League

My beautiful cousin Ashlee and her mom, my Aunt Clarice, joined a spectacular group 6 years ago. It is really something that is truly honorable to willingly and devotingly give your time to assist others! Ashlee is not only beautiful on the outside, but she is also gorgeous on the inside! She is a true sister in Christ and her passion and faith shine through her attitude and good decisions! She is an inspiration to all younger than her, and to all of us older... well... she makes you see that life can be done in such a way that you can have fun AND be a good person all at the same time! Ashlee, thank you for showing me that life is beautiful and that it is a journey well worth making in order to do good for others! It is not about how much you have, but how much you have to give! Love you!

Graduating seniors

Wow!

No she isn't one yet, but isn't she going to make a beautiful bride!

Ashlee and her cousins (we missed Sarah Beth and Sam!)

The picture I wish I had in my dress! Ashlee is such a good sport to induldge me!

Ashlee and her Family

Ashlee and her momma

Ashlee and her Aunties

Joey!!

This post is a LOOOONNNNGGGG time in the making! Sorry it took so long! We got to spend a fantastic family night with Justin's dad and family the saturday before Memorial day! Isn't he so precious! He is enough to make any uterus jump! Haha.... but seriously! Such a good baby, and he is a good boy! I love him so very much!

T.J. rocks the Viola!

T.J. is so talented! I really think he is the smartest out of all of us, not to mention that he is the only one musically inclined! The orchestra in which he is a part has received the most high honor! They are held in the highest of esteem... much higher than any other middle school orchestra around! I love him so much, and I cannot believe how grown up he is! TJ is so talented and I love him so much! Please enjoy the music!

He can be taught!!

We are so proud and so excited because Brian has graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematical Education. I have to say that I am so proud of my brother and his accomplishment! Brian and I have a very special bond. We have been through so much together and we have become very close. We can laugh at movie quotes we have heard a million times, cry at stupid movies, and laugh UNTIL we cry at fart jokes. I know that may sound strange to some people, but Brian and I don't care! He is my brother, my friend, and a true confidant! There is a reason why he walked me down the aisle, and it is because he deserved the honor. I love Brian more than he'll ever know! Oh... and he will be working at our Alma Mater High School... GO DAWGS!!!!! Yeah! High School football again!!!!

A visit with Elliot

This is my first visit with Elliot and it was well worth it! He is so adorable and I love him soooo much! Enjoy!

Better Homes and Gardens... no... Just the Sutherland Back yard!

Justin and I have been working diligently to make our backyard beautiful! We cannot wait to have all of you over to enjoy it with us! We certainly love it!

The cat gets a hair cut

Okay, coming back to the house after our Dallas trip, Sam left us little surprises all over the house... i.e. little presents of throw up! When he gets mad... He really gets mad!! Soooooo... we gave him a hair cut and a bath... Poor kitty!

No that is not patches of snow... that is just a little bit of the kitty hair!

Poor Wet Kitty!

Brother, are you okay?

Catch Up! Our trip to Dallas!

Our trip to Dallas was so much FUN! Justin and the rest of Sun Machine had a show in FORT WORTH at the AARDVARK... it is not in Dallas... It is in FORT WORTH!! J/ K with ya Corey! Anyway, before the show we got to spend a little time with Robyn, Corey and Jaxson. We had a fabulous time! I have to say as I have said before, Corey and Robyn are awesome parents! They are always on the go, doing things with their little one. Exposing him to life around him. It is amazing to see how much he has grown, and how much they have influenced his little life. This family is an inspiration to Justin and me. We want to have a family with kids that are good where ever they go, and we always want to find the beauty and joy in the things around us... just the way this family does! God has blessed their lives and touched all of our hearts in the process. Thank you so much to Robyn and Corey and little Jax for opening your house to us, and sharing a very important lesson with me! Life happens so quickly! You can't blink, you can't hold your breath... You just have to live life for every minute, enjoy the beauty that's in your own backyard... You don't have to spend a lot of money, you don't have to travel anywhere exotic... No... It's all a matter of hopping on the train and enjoying the ride!  All Aboard!!

AUNT T, PUT THE CAMERA DOWN AND NO BODY GETS HURT!
Daddy, Can I lick the bowl?
It's time to go to the ZOO TRAIN!!! Come on!!!
Cool Kid...

Cool Shoes!

Just a Walk in the Park

Peek a Boo with Uncle J

Now U C the stick...
and now U don't...

Here it comes!

Here it is!!!!

To the right you will see... a big painted kitty cat... really random!

The best part... and what's really cool... he knew it was coming up!!!
Long Day, Loving "Momma pillow"
Hey!!! Haven't we been thru this before??? And, I fell for it again!
We are Family!

Riding the Choo Choo!!

How Great is Our God!

"I don't know where we got the concept that nothing "bad" ever happens to "good" people. The floods, the fires, the storms fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. God is not a vending machine. You don't get sick, out in a prayer and are immediately healed. If that were true, the world would become believers just for the "magical" cures they would receive, not for the love of Jesus Christ."

- excerpt from the foreword of How Great is Our God by Steve Moore and David T. Clydesdale

Every year, and sometimes 2 or 3 times a year, our church choir puts on a cantata. This is a musical sermon. Most of them are powerful messages that we do around Easter or Christmas. This year was special and unique in that we did a cantata just because. When you read the passage above, I wonder if you did the same thing I did when I first heard it? I nodded my head and half chuckled, thinking, "I think I have done that a time or two... I know I have had a problem and prayed to God to PLEASE come NOW and fix the problem right away!" And then you sit back and wait... and sometimes you wait and wait...

It is hard to imagine that even as believers, we still think God is going to jump and fix the so- called problems the way we want Him to.... and its hard to imagine that He may not do anything that we had in mind! What a concept!! I know for me, it is hard to give my life to God... I can't imagine that someone else has a better vision for my life than I do... I struggle daily. Then I sit back and think... WHAT THE HELL AM I COMPLAINING ABOUT???

God has provided me everything I need... He fulfills His promise every day... He NEVER says that it will come easy or that I will never go through trials or tribulations... He promises if we love him it does NOT matter WHO WE ARE, but only what HE does, and it is through Christ Jesus that we are saved... no matter what... it brings tears to my eyes to think of all the sin I have committed, and I am loved just the same... How truly GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!

The Choir

This cantata was even more special to me because Lessie...

Jimmy...

And I got to sing together, and pretty much stand next to each other!!!

And here is a little bit of the song that Hadley and I sang... The song is called "Who Am I," and Casting Crowns does a great version for those of you who want to download it! I put this on here for my husband... I guess its pay back for the entry of him singing... oh well!

Boys will be boys

Do you remember the feeling of the Spring semester in school... it is beautiful outside, and you are just dying for school to be OVER and summer to be here? Well, the boys in our neighborhood could not wait... literally! The pool was glistening in the sun, and it was 80* outside. Most of us were loving the weather, and just sitting outside was a treat! We decided to sit out there, and dream about the day to come when the temperature would be 96* and the pool would be 90*, and feel terrific when you jump in!! Then the ruckus began... Water splashing, and boys screaming like little girls!! It was great to see them having a memorable time... Here is the story with pictures...

On your marks, get set.... FREEZE!!!

The cutest boy on the block... and the boys enjoying the HOT TUB... imagine that!

The pool was only 76*.... WHAT were they thinking??

SHARK!!!

And then there's TJ... he is such a blessing to our family, and I think this picture shows it all... The light of the good and gracious Lord shines through him always! He doesn't fall to the pressures of being a teenager... he fights the good fight... he learns and remembers, and he loves school... he impresses me every day... He is a beautiful child, both inside and out... TJ brought our family so very close together, and I am so happy that I will be raising children with TJ as a role model! Look at the light in his radiant face, and you will see the blessings he gives our family! We love you, Buddy!

Time for school!

So it is official! Monday morning I start school nursing! I begin my new journey in Fort Bend ISD at Ridgegate Elementary. It is far away from my house, but the hope is within the next year I will get an inter district transfer to a school closer to home. The trick was getting a school nurse job; now that I have it, everything else should be great! I went to an art sale today that was put on by a local Middle School (Sartartia... where momma works), and bought a cute little step stool and a little kid desk that looks like its "old school" and painted really cute colors! I am very excited to meet my students and faculty, and I am ready to educate! Healthy minds, bodies, and souls is my motto! I want to make my own banner that says that so I can hang it in my office. That's the other cool thing... over the summer they are completely redoing my clinic... so with the start of the school year, it will officially be MY clinic! I am very excited!!!! We will see how it goes! Hope everyone has a great and blessed weekend! The weather is beautiful! 

Also, for those loyal Sun Machine followers: There is a show next Friday @ 10pm @ Fitzgerald's off of I- 10 and Washington in H- town... AND a show in Dallas the following week on Saturday at the AARDVARK. Exciting stuff! Check out their website!