Cousins in the Country

Last Sunday, we went to Uncle Rick and Aunt Denise’s farm for a fun, fall hayride. Nothing beats being cuddled up together, eating yummy homemade treats while getting a scenic tour of Goshen Valley with some of your favorite folks!

Goodbye Fall......but not Football Season!

This week, I am saying goodbye to my fall décor to make room for Christmas trimmings. Luckily, there is still one aspect of fall that hasn’t ended yet……..REBEL Football!!

Goodbye repurposed rod-iron flower hanger thingy that I saved from my brother's wedding. Goodbye bird-pecked foam pumpkins and aging Mr. Scarecrow

Goodbye fall kiddo pics from seasons past. Goodbye Pier 1 clearance tree thingy. Goodbye dollar store decorated fall tree.


Hello, South Rebel football tree in Brady's new big boy room! Brady had fun decorating you!!! We hope you will continue to beam with pride when the Rebs win this Friday Night!!!

R-E-B-E-L-S!! Rebels, Rebels, Rebels are the Best........Oh Yes!!!!!!!

Fall Photoshoot

We just had some family pictures taken by our favorite photographer, Rebecca Marr! She did a fantastic job......as always! Here are just a few from our shoot in downtown Jonesborough......such a great place for pictures!!!!

To see the rest of our images go to http://www.rebeccamarrphotography.com/

Click on Client Login at the bottom of the screen. The login ID is osborne (all lower case).

We have been using her since the twins were born. She is so great with little ones!! If you want to capture some great memories, she is your gal! Please tell her I sent you!!!

Giving is Worship

" Worship the LORD with gladness"

Psalm 100:2

My parents' church recently launched a stewardship campaign with the theme.....Giving is Worship. It was such a wonderful reminder to me that worship isn't just limited to songs of praise that fill our churches on Sunday mornings or even daily, personal prayers of thanksgiving. In truth, anything that brings pleasure to God is, indeed, worship. So........obviously giving is certainly an act that brings joy to our Lord and is therefore a wonderful way to glorify and honor Him.

I wanted a simple way to teach my own kiddos that giving to others in need is a way they can truly worship Jesus. Our church is one of many who are participating in Samaritain Purse's Operation Christmas Child. I wanted Karson and Brady to understand the signifcance of what an ordinary shoebox packed with simple treats would mean to a child who has nothing. So, I showed them some pictures of the children in my World Vision magazine and a photo of the child we sponsor in Haiti.

Karson loved looking at the children in the pictures and never once questioned why they looked very different than her. In fact, she didn't even seem to notice the color of their skin. The only concern she had when looking at a picture of some orphaned school children was, "Where are their mommies and why aren't they with them?" We talked about how many of these children don't have toys to play with and that many don't have enough food to eat. Karson quickly responded, "Mommy, mommy! Their mommies just need to go to the grocery store!!! Sometimes you say we don't have any food and you go to the grocery store. That's all they need to do mommy!!" Obviously, poverty is a hard concept for children, who literally have everything, to understand.

However, one thing that Karson and Brady did understand........ and were sure that they had in common with these children is a love of candy! So, we decided to go through their mountain of Halloween candy and send all of our suckers and hard candy to "the little children in Africa." They were actually excited about this and kept saying, "I think the little children will like this piece mommy!" and "Do you think they will like this sucker, etc.?" This is just one of many, many bags of candy we put together.

I also took them shopping and let them each pick out items that they thought "the little children" would like. Karson was quick to say, "I have to buy them pink because little girls in Africa like pink too!" Brady said, "I fink, I fink the little children will like a spiderman car......I fink they will mommy!" I think they will too Brady. Giving IS worship!

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." 1 Chronicles 16:29

Dancing with the Stars

My parents' church had a barbecue supper and a variety show a couple of weeks ago. G-Daddy is always one of the # 1 acts. But this time, two little toddlers stole the show!! They love to dance to him playing the guitar. So naturally, when he started playing, Karson made a dash for the stage. She was determined to dance while her G-Daddy played! We held her back for a while, but she wouldn't take no for an answer! When she started dancing, her brother decided to join her too! It was too cute.......and quite a surprise to G-Daddy. I think they were definitely the hit of the night......G-Daddy included!!

Party Like a Pre-schooler

I just had to post some pics of Karson's first pre-school party. Poor Mr. Brady had been breathing funny all night and woke up with a yucky cough. When I told him that he'd better stay home with me instead of going to the fall party, Karson said, "Well, I am going Mommy! I am not sick!" Brady was more than totally cool with that. He said, "Sissy can just bring me my treat bag okay?" So, Daddy Oz came home for lunch, and I made it to school just in time to join the party! Here is the twins' 3 year-old class. Keep in mind that several of these kiddos are about 5 to 6 months older than Karson and Brady who just turned 3.

I don't think any of these kids ate anything but chips and cupcakes. But hey, it was a party!

Sis is all about the sweets. We brought one home for Brady.....but he gave it to me...which I gladly accepted!

Now time for some games. You really can't tell buy this next pic, but Karson is like a head shorter than several of the girls in her class.....but she can hold her own I'm told ;)

Most of the parents in their class made the wise decision not send their kiddos to school in costume. We agreed that a full day of costume wearing would result in a destroyed costume for Halloween. So, most of us just brought them and slipped them on our kids during the party.

Karson was sooooooo excited to be Tinkerbell!

The kids painted their own pumpkins.......you can imagine how messy that was :)
I just feel so blessed that my stay-at-home mommy job allows me to have the opportunity to get to be a part of everything in their lives! And, even though my bosses are quite demanding, they are a joy to work for.....most of the time. Oh, and the dark haired guy who's over the pay-role department.........is a definite hunk! (I think he has the hots for me too....ssh! ;)