Fall Time and Granddad's 80th Birthday!

We had a lovely weekend! I LOVE fall time in West Texas!

On Saturday, we had a very busy day with some very special birthdays in our family.  First, we ventured to Earth where we celebrated Greg's Great-Grandmothers 98th Birthday!  Isn't that incredible! After the party, Greg and the girls had a blast playing in the leaves!

I think Abi's face is HILARIOUS in this photo!



Sister Love!

Paisleigh in the leaves!

Miss Blue Eyes!

After we celebrated in Earth, we made our way to Hale Center where we celebrated my Granddaddy's 80th Birthday!  I Love him so much and we had a wonderful time at his party!

My sister, Angie and Granddad

My Granny and the girls playing beauty shop!

We sure did put ALL 80 candles on his cake! :)

Priceless!

We had a great weekend and we are so thankful that we are able to celebrate these very special people in our lives!

Have a great week,

Lauren

Trick or Treat 2010

I just LOVE butterflies! Especially when they are this cute!! :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2010!

Race for the Cure 2010 and My First 5K

inspiring

motivational

rewarding

exciting

moving

loving

My sister and I ran for our Mom this past Saturday in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!  We completed our first 5K!  We were so excited, so inspired and so proud to be representing our Mom!  We will definitely be there again next year!

South Plains Fair 2010

I love fair time! I look forward to it every year! Actually, that's a fib.  I look forward to the DELICIOUS fried apricot pies every year! ha! They are so good and sooo bad for you, which makes them even better! :)

See! D-LISH!

Our little family ventured out to the fair this past Sunday.  It was family day and we had a blast!  Paisleigh really got into the animals and rides this year while I think sweet Abi was still trying to take it all in!

Greg took the girls into the petting zoo! 

Of course Paisleigh had to wear her sunshades inside the petting zoo, because that is the cool thing to do! lol! 

I also LOVE the lemonade at the fair! It makes my heart happy! Greg and I shared the regular and strawberry lemonade this year and it was PERFECT!

All of the girls riding the carousel! Aunt Gigi, Paisleigh, Abigail and myself!

Paisleigh's first $12 fair toy! HA! It was so worth it though watching her fish for ducks!  She was so proud of herself!

Abi was so into watching all of the people and rides at the fair! I think next year she will really get into everything!

My sister and me! Love Her!

Angie and her man, Wes!

Family Photo: Fair 2010

On our way out Paisleigh NEEDED a corn dog! So, she got one...and she LOVED it! Hey, the fair only comes once a year, right?!

We really had such a great time at the fair this year! Is it sad that I am ready for next year just to get my hands on another fried pie.... :)

Have a beautiful day!

Love,

Lauren

My Beautiful Ballerina

Paisleigh had her first night of dance class this past Tuesday and WE loved it! :) I have waited and waited to dress our girls up as a ballerina!  Paisleigh is learning ballet, tap and gymnastics in her class and I am so excited for her!  I had an absolute blast watching her on Tuesday!  She told me Wednesday morning that she was going to daycare and she was going to teach her friends how to dance too! HA! I love it and I love my beautiful ballerina!

I am so thankful to have such a beautiful ballerina!

Have a great weekend!

Love,
Lauren

Labor Day Vacation-Ruidoso 2010

We had a wonderful labor day weekend!  Every year, for as long as I can remember, our family (The Sims's) take a vacation to Ruidoso, NM.  It was so relaxing and such a great time just visiting, cooking and hanging out with our Family!

Abigail LOVED playing on the deck!

Watching the Deer from her view!! HA!

Paisleigh had to have a coke (because we were on vacation) and of course it is out of a champagne glass!

My Beautiful Mom!

My Sister, Angie, and her boyfriend, Wes! 

The Husband and Me

Our Family!

My Mom and Dad at the Horse Races! Such a great time!

My Sister and Me

Nona and Abigail at the Horse Races!

I am so thankful I have such a wonderful family and I absolutely love this family tradition!

Looking forward to next year already!

Have a great week!

Love,

Lauren

The BEST, worst news EVER!

"Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

—Mark 11:23-25

Our God is so amazing! 
Yesterday was one of the LONGEST days of my life.  My grandmother received a call from her doctor yesterday and they had her come in for the results of her scan from Monday.  Her appointment was not until 4, so all day, we waited.  I kept telling myself not to worry.  We are not supposed to worry for God has control of everything.  However, I worried...and prayed...and waited...and prayed...and worried some more.  Around 5:20, my Mom called and said the cancer is localized in my grandmother's breast and possibly in one lymph node.  We have never been so excited about cancer EVER!  This is the BEST, worst news, we could possibly imagined!  I am so thankful that the cancer is not spread throughout her body and bones.  God answers and hears our prayers!  He is in complete control!  She should hear today when a surgery is scheduled to remove the tumor and lymph nodes and then a treatment plan will take place!
Thank you, to all of you, who thought and prayed for my Mammaw and family yesterday! Thank you!

Miracles Happen!

Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Lauren

The "C" Word...

I hate the "c" word

It terrifies me to no end.  I have heard the "c" word a few times in my life and each time it tears me apart, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. 

I remember when I was little, 4th or 5th grade, my great-grandmother had cancer.  Although, I do not remember that part very much, I do remember her laying in the hospital in pain and I vividly remember her last morning with us here on Earth when I said goodbye for the last time.  She was surrounded by her children and family and loved SO much. 

I hate the "c" word

I remember the phone call from my Mom when she told me the news that she had breast cancer.  I have talked about it some on this blog, but I cannot describe how I felt in that instant, hearing her say "those words".  However, I also remember my Mom standing up against the "c" word and having Faith so strong and defeating it!  She is now cancer free and ever so beautiful! I am so proud of her.

I hate the "c" word

In 2003, I remember watching my Mammaw (my Dad's Mom) hold her family together with her Faith and still smiling on the morning of her surgery that would begin her battle against Stage IV ovarian cancer.  With a Faith so strong and the devil knocked down to his knees by her strength and fear for the Lord, she defeated it!  Stage IV ovarian cancer!!!  Cancer free and feeling wonderful, seven years later and her port was removed 6 months ago and last week, it was discovered that it was back. 

I hate the "c" word

It was discovered on a mammogram, an "interesting" spot in her breast.  It was discovered that the ovarian cancer has mestastisized and has spread to her breast.  We do not know anything more than this.  She has her scans this morning and I am and have been praying and worrying and anxious to know more.  I am praying the cancer is localized and not everywhere.  I pray that God would lay His healing hands on her and take the cancer away and give her peace!  I pray for peace.

I pray for peace for her, for her children, for our family.  I know God is with us, ALWAYS, and has His hands in this.  I know He said He would never leave or forsake us and I believe that with my whole heart and I know my Mammaw does too.  I think that is why it is easier to be kind of strong about it, because she is.  Her Faith amazes me and comforts me.  She is wonderful and I am sad she has to face this "thing" again. However, if anyone can, she can...and will.

I hate the "c" word

An afternoon with friends!

Paisleigh and I spent yesterday afternoon with two dear friends!  We attended the Nickelodeon Storytime with my best friend from High School, Dana, and her oldest daughter, Ashlyn!  Paisleigh and Ashlyn are getting to be BIG BUDDIES and we LOVE IT!  It is so unbelievable that she and I are old enough to have a 3 and almost 4 year old and we are now attending things like "Nickelodeon Storytime"!  HA!  We had a wonderful time watching these two kiddos dance around, clap and sing!

Paisleigh and Ashlyn

I think these two are going to be just as good of friends as her Mom and I are!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Lauren