Support our Troops!

I am proud to be an American where at least I know I am free...

and I won't forget the men who died

who gave their life for me

and I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

cause their ain't no doubt I love this Land

God bless the USA!

Two Saturday nights ago Carl, Andersen, AJ and I went to eat at Zios---love Zios!!! The little girls had already gone to my parent's and so it was just the four of us. There was a pretty long wait.

While we were waiting on our table--beeper in hand, a girl asked me if I could take their picture. I said, "Sure, I would be glad to." There were four girls who looked college age and they were all dressed up. (Adorable I might I add!) So I said, "What is the occasion, what are you all celebrating?" Allison, (yes we are now on first name basis!) said, "We are celebrating our anniversaries." I looked around no husbands... she continued on, "Our husbands are in Iraq and we are here celebrating our anniversaries together." Their husbands serve in the National Guard, in the 45th infantry division out of OKC. I almost bawled! I of course told them how precious I thought they were. (And you know I do not use that word lightly!!!) While we were standing there waiting, tears really did come to my eyes and of course Andersen and AJ are going, "Moooomm" I said, "I can't help it you guys, that is a BIG DEAL for your husband to be gone--at war! And I am proud of them for not staying home and pouting but for going out and celebrating their marriages!!"

Our buzzer went off. So of course our conversation continued to center around these four adorable girls and the sacrifices THEY are making as well as their husbands. By the end of our meal we all four agreed that we needed to pay for their dinner as a little anniversary gift and as a thank you to their husbands for serving our country so that we continue to have the freedoms that we do. So Carl went over and gave them money for their dinner and told them to tell their husbands thank you for all that they do to keep our country safe and free. And of course the freedom that I am most thankful for--you know--is to worship The Most High God! That I can meet Sunday after Sunday at my great church and sing praises to Jesus is something that I need to be thankful to our men and women in uniform for!

Allison was sweet enough to send me their picture and a sweet email expressing their gratitude for dinner. Which Carl and I both felt that was the least that we could do for all their husbands do for our country. I have printed out their picture and have hung it on our fridge so that we will remember to pray for these girls and their husbands and for all our troops!

So join me and when you see a man in military uniform or are made aware of a family left here--do something--thank them--shake their hand--clap for them--buy them dinner--something! For sure pray for them!

From left to right--Heaven (how about that name!), Stephanie, Brandy and Allison.

My Baby is Six!

If you are like me--bless your heart if you are, there are certain phrases that you have told yourself that you would not say.

It seems like just yesterday... is one of those phrases.

But it is true.

It seems like just yesterday, we were laying in bed and I had the flu for a really long time and Carl said to me, "maybe your pregnant." I replied, "I am NOT pregnant!" He said, "Well you might be." I said, "I am not...oh go to Walgreen's!" So at 11:00 o'clock at night my sweet Carl got up put his clothes on and went to Walgreen's to get a pregnancy test." Immediately my flu was cured and I was pregnant!!

Our conversation went something like this for the next 3-5 minutes.

Me: What are we going to do?

Carl: We are going to have a baby?

Me: Oh my word, what are we going to do?

Carl: We are going to have a baby?

It seems like just yesterday that we were having a 20 week ultra-sound with all 5 of us packed into the closet they call the imaging room--looking at this sweet little gray baby. It was in the middle of the day so Carl took Andersen and AJ back to school and took Avery with him and I was left in the room to hear our devastating news that something was wrong--they weren't quite sure what it was--could be nothing---or--I asked my doctor to tell me what she was thinking. She said, "Denise this could be nothing, we aren't sure. I have never seen anything like this and I want to send you to a specialist, a high-risk OB and let him take a look at the baby. Again, it could be nothing.." I said, "Or..." She replied, "Or the worst case scenario is that the baby's lungs will not develop and it will die outside the womb." More than I wanted to hear.

It seems like just yesterday the Lord gave me, "You are my rock, my redeemer, my strong tower, a very present help in time of need." to hang on to.

I said, "Can I get in tomorrow?" It was Thursday and I did not want to wait the whole weekend and wonder what was going on. She said, "Denise, I am a physician and I don't think I could get myself in tomorrow." I said, "Well, I am just going to pray that I do." She said, "You can pray, but I don't think you can get in tomorrow." She called about an hour later and said, "You have an appointment at 8 o'clock in the morning. I guess it worked." IT sure did and IT has worked for me for the past 43 1/2 years regardless of what my situation was.



It seems like just yesterday we learned that Austin had Cystic Ademnotoid Malformation of the Lungs.


It seems like just yesterday we were told that her case did not appear to be fatal, but we were looking at surgery perhaps days after she was born.


It seems like just yesterday that she was born perfectly healthy and perfectly beautiful. Praise the Lord! (We were not digital 6 years ago so take my word she was BEAUTIFUL!!)


It seems like just yesterday that her and AJ were sharing a room and AJ decided he preferred the couch to baby noises.


It seems like just yesterday she was making us all laugh--oh wait that was yesterday!!

Austin Olivia Lopez is the joy of our family! She loves to make us all laugh.

As in the Lopez family tradition her door was decorated for her when she woke up this morning. We are having a movie party with her friends next week so of course I had to stick with the theme!

And as in the Lopez fashion. We had a candle in our breakfast. Normally this is chocolate chip muffin, but Curt, Carl's brother spent the night last night. (He and his wife Elizabeth are here for a month visiting. They live in Qua tar and IT is amazing!) So Curt wanted Breakfast Burritos--our name is not Lopez for nothing! So Austie had her candle in a breakfast burrito--homemade I might add.






She got a bike for her birthday. As of two weeks ago, she is training wheel free and goes 90 to nothing. I have never seen anything like it. If I could I would think about entering her in BMX racing. (And by saying if I could, I mean my gracious upbringing would not allow it--so not that we couldn't really but we wouldn't. Call me pretentious but we don't do BMX.) But she is fast enough none the less. Please notice the pink skirt.! (0:







Well it is true it seems like just yesterday... we were blessed with our bundle of joy named Austin Olivia Lopez. What a gift!!!

4 Kids Is Alot!

Every summer for the past 4 years Andersen and AJ have attended New Life Ranch. An incredible week of camp for them to focus on God and have fun! They love it! During the week Avery and Austin go to stay with my parents for a few days. They love it! Soooo, Carl and I are HOME ALONE!! We love it!

The truth is, it is really odd to go from a house full of 4 children to a very quiet house with just the two of us. Carl does not make much noise!

I teach a new member's class at our church which was this past Sunday. I have everyone introduce themselves--which with 40+ people on most occasions can take a while--BUT I am a people person and I want to hear about them. So this one guy said that one of the reasons they loved our church was because of the children's ministry--and he added, "and we have a lot of children." I said, "How many do you have?" New member man replied, "We have 4." I said, "We have four and you are right it is a lot."

4 children are a lot!
A lot of:
hugs
goodnight kisses
goodmorning kisses
no reason at all kisses
shoes left laying around
giggles
loads of laundry
"I love you, Mommy"es
stories
"Can you help me with..."
activities after school
time lying on their beds talking about their day
running around in the car
making cookies
shopping (we love shopping!)
trips to Josh's Sno Shack
homework (we dislike homework!)
teaching about experiencing God in their EveryDay lives
"Mommy did you know..."
Bedtime stories
laughing in the car
laughing at Wipe-Out--Funniest Home Video--etc. (or just people in general who fall, trip etc!)
laughing at each other
flip flops (we love flip flops!)
wiping tears
nighttime prayers
morning prayers
keep them safe Lord prayers
give me patience prayers
saying, "of all the little girls/boys in all the world, I am so glad you are mine"
JOY

So as much fun as Carl and I are having this week going to dinner etc etc ETC! I must say I am ready to see ALOT of kids! "Children are a gift from the Lord." and that is the truth!!!