ten smile tuesday (a wee bit early!)

okay...i know its a bit early, but i'm sure you'll excuse that. i figure i'll take advantage of the chance to sit down and blog while i can. we are, of course, thoroughly enjoying our special time with grandmommy and poppy. so here's the smiles...

1. listening to elizabeth leave a voicemail for daddy...he was at a meeting, but she wanted to tell him about her day and what a great job she did eating ALL of her dinner. so precious to hear the "i love you daddy....night night!" at the end...and to think of the smile that will be spread across mike's face as soon as he hears it.

2. our swingset. mike and my dad spent saturday afternoon and sunday sawing, drilling, measuring, and constructing. elizabeth and kate woke up from sunday afternoon naps and were greeted by their brand new swingset. needless to say, they both love it...and i am thrilled about all the hours of swinging and sliding fun ahead of us this summer!

3. all of my wonderful friends who helped me to win the $25 kroger gift card in the contest at mommin' it up. you guys are the best! now if only i could win the $500 grand prize from kroger....

4. not only did i win the kroger contest, it was my week for winning...i mentioned winning the skeeda bag from pediascribe in the bloggy giveaway...well, in the comments of that post i was informed that i also won over at belle's world...a target giftcard and beaded bracelets.

5. an incredibly motivating and challenging sermon on sunday morning...the first sermon from our new pastor...he is starting a series in colossians, titled "The Core"....all about Jesus being the center of our lives. could this be any more approprite--considering leslie's challenge and the ensuing thoughts about "passion" that i shared. i am definitely looking forward to this series...

6. kate's dedication...sunday evening we took part in the parent dedication service at church...standing before God and our church family to verbalize our desire and commitment to raise kate in a biblical manner...to train and shepherd her as God has called us to. how special that the pastor who is over parent dedication at our church is the same pastor who dedicated elizabeth AND who married mike and i...

7. the fun of showing my mom the "ropes" of cvs-ing...and my other couponing adventures...it really is so fun!

8. a delightful playdate in the park with my MOPS group....and then filling my house with the moms and kiddos for lunch afterwards. so much fun!

9. our kater gator is getting more and more mobile...she's doing the whole scooching backwards when she tries to move forward thing...so cute! and though she has her share of fussiness with teething, she is so full of massive smiles the rest of the time...babbling, blowing raspberries, chewing on anything and everything...so precious!

10. grace, grace...God's grace...it hasn't been one particular thing, but this week i have been reminded afresh of God's grace...His grace that covers my iniequities, my insecurities, my flat out failures....His grace that calls me to strive for sanctification and obedience.

11. and who can resist this one...one sweet libbers with her poppy...watching the "choo-choo" from the yard...