Play Dates and Pretty Candies

This week has been full of fun play dates and sweet memories.

We started the week off with Reeve and Rudy where the boys played - hard!  Yep, so hard that there were a few (small) dents in the play room wall where I think Luke decided to play the drums.  Oh my!  At least Jenny understands.....but how embarrassing!   The boys are all so close in age, they just love playing together, especially Layton and Reeve.  Blake and I think so much of Tad and Jenny too......so thankful for their friendship.  It's encouraging to think about our boys growing up together.

While the boys played, the girls made this wreath. Isn't it beautiful?  Jenny is so creative,  & I'm a fast learner......so it works out perfectly:)

Then we also had an extra special play date with Parker, Isabelle and Luke Phillips.  They are the precious family that Blake stayed with and ministered with in Niger, Africa.  I couldn't wait to hang out with them and catch up on their fun in America, but between chasing toddlers, bouncy houses, and playing with balloons, we did the best we could. 

Luke is so sweet - he LOVES giving his Momma kisses!

Sweet Isabelle:)

 These cuties (Spencer & Hope) were there to play with Izzy and Luke too!

and..............

this was a major melt down by my almost 2 year old....Mr. Luke.  Leaving the bouncy was not going over well.

We headed to Chic-fil-A to have lunch and play again!

And then Luke Phillips got to play with his first helium balloon.....Parker said that they definitely didn't have them in Africa! :)

The Phillips' won't be back until 2014, so as I said goodbye, I also said a prayer for their saftey, their beautiful ministry to the Songhai people, their sweet family to continue to serve Him with their lives.

********************************************************************

Last but not least, I was shopping this week and found these pretty candies......

From the outside, they might not look special, but they sure do to me.  My Nana (my Mom's Mom) always had these in candy dishes around her house.  I remember that they weren't my favorite candy, but they were pretty and had a distinct sweet smell. I couldn't wait to purchase and place them out in a dish......just for the memory of her this Christmas. 

This is one of the only pictures I have of her and I, but its my favorite.  She passed away, suddenly, when I was 10, so I had only a limited time with her here on Earth.

She is singing to me and I love how I am cuddled up in her arms, safe and sound, protected, loved.........

What I wouldn't give to curl right back into her arms and for her to sing me to sleep......

miss her so much, especially this time of year.