Babies!!

We sure have gotten to enjoy some sweet babies this summer. Each and every year, girls, you get more and more captured by these precious creations. Here are three this summer that have gotten LOTS of attention from you. Kamry Layton

Lillianne Covert

Josue' Dominguez

I love having family and dear friends who allow us to be so involved with the lives of their children. You girls learn so much by observing and helping. I am so thankful for each of these new lives and the lives of upcoming new arrivals. They provide such hope and joy for the future.

Speaking of upcoming arrivals, we got the news yesterday that we are adding another BOY cousin to the crew... Wes and Camille received wonderful news of a healthy, baby BOY DOZIER. The boys are catching up, girls!!

July festivities

We had a great 4th of July weekend this year. The older I get, the more I look forward to times for family to be together. Uncle Wes and Aunt Camille came over early to swim and have a little watermelon fun!!! You deemed Wes "The Best Uncle" award and gave him a medal, Caitlyn. He wore it with pride!

Getting a little sun!

Big Daddy and his girls!

Amy and Travis joined us this year...such a treat!!!

We attempted some fireworks, but the rain only really let us do sparklers. This has been the rainest and coolest summer I can remember. It was actually in the 70's this week...a record since the late 1800s for July. We aren't complaining...........

It was way past your bedtime, sweet girl.

Later that next week, you and Daddy got to go to Otter's first "Daddy/daughter dance", Caitlyn. Daddy and I chose you a new dress and Daddy picked you out a rose. You both had such a good time...we hope this will be a tradition every year. Next year, Daddy will have two girls to dance with!!

Oh, the days of summer..................

Things we are learning.......

As always, we are learning...how to do new things, how to treat people, how to obey, what things in culture mean and on and on and on. These are just a few I have wanted to remember lately.

Let me preface this by saying, we are not shoppers. Well, at least I'm not. I have never really enjoyed it and I just haven't ventured out much with you, girls. I like to go in a store, get what I need and leave. Strange for a woman, I know...but that is me. Caitlyn, you, however are showing true signs that you will be a little fashion bug. You LOVE clothes. You love dressing up, making your own special outfits out of household items, and you are getting very particular about what you wear.
Anyway, we went into Old Navy for me to look for a dress. The two of you were in awe at all the clothes. I think you walked around with your mouths dropped open a lot of the time! When we were about to leave, you noticed the mannequins at the front of the store and said, "Mommy, are those people?" pause.."I mean did somebody kill them and use their bodies?!" I just had to laugh...I love the way your minds think.
Later that night you were telling Daddy about our experience and said.."Mommy got such a pretty dress at Old Maid!" Now that would be an interesting store!!!


You two are also learning more about what Daddy does. You so enjoy hanging out with him on my half days of work. He often will let you do something at one of his flip houses. Some days you get to demolish walls, some days you get to sweep or wash windows. On this day, he let you each paint. You loved it.

Daddy thinks he is training his future employees!!!

I always love to talk to you about what you are learning in church. Your teachers send you home with cards for mommy and daddy to discuss further what you are learning in class and children's worship. It is such a good tool to help us communicate with you about what we believe and to let you ask questions. At this point, it is us talking more than you, but I pray you will be girls that question things and want to discuss issues surrounding spirituality.

Caitlyn, you have gotten very interested in searching for scriptures. We will give you a verse and you scan the index for the book and page number and then see how quickly you can find the chapter and verse. It makes my heart glad to see your interest being peaked. You are also getting excited about memorizing verses. I love knowing the word is being hidden in your heart already.

My sweet Caroline, you are working so diligently to learn how to tie your shoes. We have a neat book that guides you....since most all our shoes are velcro or buckles. You have gotten frustrated many times, but you keep at it. I am so proud of you!

Finally, we are learning about compassion. Oh, this has been a hard one!!! When I think about the characteristics I want you to possess as you get older, this one is at the top of the list. We have gotten to experience several situations this summer with other little girls that have spurred us to really talk about treating others the way we want to be treated. It is still so hard for even mommy and daddy to do this, girls. But it is a goal we MUST strive for. Sure, to make others feel special, but more than that because WE have been shown SUCH compassion from God. The older you get, the more I know you will come to understand this truth and I pray HE continues to give us life lessons to help us practice this wonderful quality.

Lord, help us be more like Jesus in the way we treat others. Help us to have compassionate and understanding hearts when we meet people that are not like us or that are a challenge to be around. YOU never put anyone in our path that we can't love and learn from. Help Daniel and I to model this in our own lives, so the girls have a living example. Thank you for your infinite compassion and grace poured out to us every day.

June in review

When I started blogging last year my intention was to journal every week. Overall, I have done a decent job of that. I like staying current and it bothers me when I get behind. WELL.....when I realized today that I had 199 pictures on my camera to download for the month and that I had posted NOTHING of June, I decided to just do a review of the month. So..girls, know that it has been SUCH a good month...full of fun things and wonderful people. I hope you get a taste of that when you read this! Our dance year at Fellowship Dance was so full of blessing. The first of June was full of practices and performances showcasing what you learned this year. Here is your sweet class of two-four years olds!!! Anything they did was adorable!!!

Smiles with your classmates as you waited on picture time!

Caroline performing "His Banner over me is Love!"

Caitlyn, your class did two dances. The ballet dance was "My Best Friend" and the jazz was "King of the Jungle". It was amazing to me how much you improved from last year and how well you remembered your steps!!!

The three amigos.

We carpooled every week together and made fun memories!!

Your beloved teachers..."Miss" Keely and "Miss" Amy. They taught with such a Christ-centered approach and with such patience and encouragment.

We got to spend a day and night with Bradley and Thomas in Manchester. Look what we got to do....definitely a first..for Mommy, too!!!

Fun with our special friends...

Constantly in water...in some form or fashion!!!

Feeding and caring for Josue' and time with Mammi and Mimi while Mommy works

Celebrating Father's Day

Time every week with Mariana!

Girls of summer!!!!!!!!!!

And as always, Monday night softball games at Granny White Park.... a must for June!!!

It's been a different kind of summer, but good in so many ways. I am so thankful for the way you two have adusted to the new "routine". For me, my days with you have taken on a whole new meaning and are more precious than ever! Oh, how fast the time is flying. I hear it only gets faster.....................

Farmers in the making!

Aaahh..just three weeks behind!!! Catch up time...
We had such a nice, relaxing Memorial Day. Typically, we go to someone's house or host a cook out, but this year we decided to just stay home and be together. We so enjoyed our garden last year and have been looking forward to warm (and dry) enough weather to get out and start farming! We had gone to the Franklin Farmer's Market and the Co-Op on the Saturday before and picked out seeds and plants for our garden. Daddy had also been working days ahead to get the soil ready. So....our only plan for the day was to get the garden planted and going. You girls couldn't wait to get your hands dirty! It's so fun using tools!!!!!!!!!

This year we chose to plant squash, zucchini, peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, basil and dill. Our strawberry plant from last year has already produced several tasty pieces of fruit!!!

Here you are, Caitlyn, cooling off and supervising!!!

Mommy and Daddy finished it up...........

Later that afternoon, Uncle Wes and Aunt Camille stopped by to be lazy with us and love on the animals. Dandy was looking for a treat.........

We are so excited to finally be able to announce, too, that we are going to be adding another cousin to our family in December!!!! We are soooooooooooo thrilled for the parents to be and can't wait to "help" with the newest member of the Dozier crew!!! I also CAN'T wait to see my brother be a daddy!!!

Daddy was chillin in Aunt Camille's glasses and some salsa after a hard morning's work.

It is so fun to see how much the plants grow every week! We can't wait to sample the goods!

Caroline funnies!

I love some of the things that come out of your mouth, girl.
While eating breakfast on Saturday morning, out of the blue, you said, "Mommy, when God first made me, I was crying to death because I wanted YOU!"
On Sunday morning on the way to church we were talking about God being everywhere and in everything. You, very matter of fact, said, "Yeah, Caitlyn, He's sitting right on your head!"

God's FAITHFULNESS in all things!

So.........I made it through the first week of my new job! Whew...I must admit, I am so glad the first week is behind me. It went really well! I felt God's hand of peace with me and now, looking back, see the many ways He was faithful in giving me what I needed for each day. It feels so good to be using my nursing skills in this type of setting. Dr. Presley and his whole staff have been so kind, gracious and encouraging as I learn. Caroline, you were teary towards the end of the week...it was a lot to take in, I believe. It was hard to leave as you cried on Friday, but made me realize how much we all had missed one another. Each week will get easier...I know it will!
I had to put these pictures in of "my birds". They have been such a reminder of the way God provides for all our needs over the last few weeks. We first noticed the mother bird about six weeks ago, making a nest in one of our new ferns. We have these hanging right outside the kitchen window on the porch, so we could see her progress every day. By the middle of the second week, there were five small eggs inside. Every few days, we would step outside and lift you girls up to check them out. The mother bird was never far. After about two and a half weeks, the baby birds hatched and we got to watch the mother bird come and feed them several times a day. They would make lots of chirping noises and open their mouths wide....just like I had always seen on TV or read about in books. Two weeks later, all five baby birds had learned to fly and had flown away. This picture is the last one of the babies and the bottom picture is of the empty nest.

Watching the six week process...all of which occurred before I started my job, was a constant reminder of God's provision and care for even the smallest of His creatures. Girls, He always knows exactly what we need and when, and He will guide us to take each new step He lays out for us.

Backtracking a few weeks... we ended school with a whirl of activity. Sweet Caroline, you ended up getting sick the last few days of school, but at least you got to attend some of Caitlyn's end of the year activities!!

Your Field Day was very different than I remember mine to be. No relay races, no ribbons...just all sorts of fun stations to enjoy. You and your partner, Bailee, jumped from one to the next with such joy! I was able to stop by for about an hour and snap some pictures.

The day before school let out, you had your Kindergarten Picnic on the front lawn and you got to play on the "big kid" playground. It was so nice. They parents sat on blankets under the trees and visited while you all played and played, stopping briefly to enjoy a popsicle and of course, a few pictures!!

Our precious Mrs. Adcox...we pray she hangs around for Caroline in another year!!! We truly could not have hand picked a better teacher, suited for you. I give her so much credit for helping you love school. She deserves more than we could ever give her!!!

At the first of the year, you were so nervous to meet new people and make new friends. Oh, how that has changed! You have become such a social light...even with the older kids at school. It has been so neat to watch. In fact, I could tell on multiple occasions during the last week of school, you held back tears. When you came out at dismissal on the last day, you ran to me and sobbed...so sad to be leaving all your new friends. You cried on and off all the way home and then went to your room to cry some more when we got home. It was bittersweet for me to watch....seeing how deeply you love and thinking about all the times in the future you will have to say goodbye to people. It just reassured me, though, that Lipscomb was a great choice for you and I can't wait to see what's to come in first grade!!

So.........summer begins........with my two pretty princesses!!!!!!!

Time for MUCH outdoor fun...the first of which was playtime and lunch in the purple palace...with your amazing guard dogs on watch!!!

Here's to summer time life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!