My Little Butterfly 288/365

I'm trying my best to finish up the kids pictures.  Little Miss LeeLee is always flying around, so I turned her into a little butterfly.

 She makes a precious butterfly....

 Full of cuteness......

 and tons of personality.

My precious girl makes the people around her tired just by watching her.  She is full of movement and activity every waking moment of the day.  I wouldn't change a thing about her!  She is a precious gift, and I could just pinch myself everyday because I have the privilege of being her mommy.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. - Psalms 23:1

Have you ever really watched a butterfly and thought about how they became so beautiful and what exactly they are doing?  I think a butterfly reflects LeeLee's life so beautifully.  You see, LeeLee was a little caterpillar when she came to us (granted she was a cute caterpillar.)  The instant she was placed in our arms it was like a cocoon began to wrap around her. It was full of love and security, which she knew she needed.  But she was scared.  Just as she started to be almost fully wrapped into her cocoon, she began to fight.  She fought for her life thinking that she needed to stay a caterpillar for the rest of her life.  She no longer wanted to love and security that the cocoon provided.  However, after some time, she allowed her self to be fully enveloped by the cocoon.  LeeLee took her sweet little time, but she eventually turned into a butterfly.  Now she floats through life, always knowing where to fly to receive what she truly needs.  I am so happy that she knows, understands, and now accepts unconditional love. Isn't this also what our life with Christ is like?  He allows us to be butterflies instead of caterpillars, and he loves when we remember the cocoon that he provides. Then God always provides for his butterflies, they have a purpose as they seem to aimlessly float through life.

Climbing the Walls 287/365

I tortured my kids today and took them shopping in Columbus.  By the late afternoon, this is what they were doing......climbing the walls!!

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep 286/365

You can't even see the floor upstairs in the girls room.  They have all the mattresses down on the floor, and they are all piled in them. Noelle is such a great sister and is reading to her sisters before bed.  I don't know how it is going to go when Noelle moves out of their room in a few months.  

Cinnamon Goodness! 285/365

In life I have only had a few addictions, and these little things were one of them.  I would drive through Taco Bell throughout college and buy Cinnamon Crispas (that's what they were back then) and eat them like they were potato chips.  I finally broke my addiction after Noelle was born.  I haven't had any in over ten years. Tonight I introduced them to my children.  It was love at first taste.  Which just confirms one thing, these four children are definitely mine, ALL MINE!!  Oh yeah, the addiction may be back, I forgot how good those things are.

More Froggy Fun 284/365

After school today, Hunter found this little friend in the creek.  He is a tree frog, and we love those because of the beautiful sounds they make at night. Their croak combined with the bull frogs makes for some great evening music.  Do you notice that this little guy is a little special?

At first I thought it's eye had popped out, but then we realized that the eye never developed a pupil.  He seems to have adapted just fine though.  We loved on him a little more then let him go back to what he does best, climbing the trees.  It's nice to get a glimpse of one of a nightly band members.

Owl Fanatic 283/365

I took this picture for Noelle.  She is a little obsessed in love with owls.  They haven't replaced penguins.  She still loves penguins and dreams of being a penguin, but 4-H has taught her a love of owls.  Since we have a raptor rehab center close by, running into rehab owls when we are out and about is not unusual.  I do think this owl is adorable, but the one that follows me from branch to branch in the early morning hours when I walk Pippa........well, even though I can't see it, I know it's not cute like this one.  Whooo! Whooo!

A Special Someone 282/365

The weather and the kids haven't cooperated much for me to finish taking their individual pictures, but I was able to squeeze in Amber, and precious senior form our church.  This girl is so amazing in ways that I can't even tell you.  She entered my Sunday School class four years ago.  I was with her for two years before I moved to the college department.  One of the things I have missed the most about working with the youth is Amber.  I loved mentoring her and loving on her.  I know without a doubt that God has an amazing plan for Amber's life.  I was honored to be able to do her pictures and capture her precious beauty.