My Little Cowboy!!!

Trying to do tricks with his Lasso. Some lady passed by and said, "Nice Lasso!" Davis' response was,"Hey Lady, not a Lasso...It's my cowboy rope." He doesn't understand they mean the same thing!

My cute cowboy!!!

Mini Word!

We attended New Life Church our first week in Colorado. We had a great experience and enjoyed Pastor Brady's (Senior Pastor) sermon.

He spoke out of Proverbs 3: 5-6:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight."

This passage and Pastor Brady really spoke to me. Here are the three points I got out of it:

1. Trust:

• We need to place our trust in God.
  
• "There is no one like our God"
  
• Question: Who is the first person you call when bad things happen? Shouldn't our answer be God? I know that wasn't the first name that popped in my head. What about you?
• It is ok to go to others but God should be our first stop. He needs to know we trust him first.
• In whom will you trust?

2. Lean:

• We need to lean on God ( Isaiah 55:8).
• If we lean on ourselves and follow our heart where is that going to get us? In a ditch somewhere!!!
• If we trust and Lean on God, He will set our path straight.
• Quote: "Worry is a commitment to your own thinking."
• If you think you are the one who needs to figure you life out good luck sleeping at night!
• Commit to God's thinking.
  
• If you want to end up in the right place, then listen up because God's wants to tell you.

3. Acknowledge:

• Acknowledge a faithful friend; God.
• We have the best father in heaven.
• Ask Him: "Dad am I doing it right?" "I need your guidance."

How well are you with trusting, leaning, and acknowledging God? This is in an area in my life that I am always working on.

"God, help us all to trust and lean on you more. Help us to acknowledge that you love us and wants what is best for us. Continue to speak into our lives in hope we will open our ears to hear."

Movie Night!!!

Last night Noah, Davis, and I popped the popcorn and curled up for a "movie night." We picked Beverly Hills Chihuahua and told Davis that we were going to watch a movie with dogs like Miles and Colby (our dogs). He was so excited and couldn't stop asking to see the movie like Miles and Colby.

Colby and Miles

The movie was great and Davis sat for the whole 91 minutes glued to the tube. I was so taken back how much Papi ( the tan dog) really did look like Miles.

GREAT night with the family!!!!

MEN!!!

When Noah and I were packing for the sabbatical he was questioning me on WHY I was packing Davis' nebulizer and medication for it. He didn't understand why we needed it because Davis hadn't needed it or used it in several months. I told him he needed to trust me and we weren't going to discuss it again. I was packing it and that was that. He backed down and said, "Your the boss when it comes to this stuff." I still knew he disagreed but he was right I am the BOSS and I am packing it.

So we made it to Colorado and two days later Davis got sick and we had to use the nebulizer twice a day (doctor's orders) for the next few days. Noah's statement, "I am glad WE brought his nebulizer!" YOU THINK!!!



Let's just say, MEN!!!

Noah's Birthday Celebration!!!

Here are some pictures of Noah's Birthday dinner. We went to the "Airplane Restaurant":

We ate in that airplane. It is an old Air Force plane.

This is the seat in the waiting area.

Part of the plane is inside the downstairs dining hall.

What's for dinner?

My boys were in heaven playing in the cockpit. It was a job getting them to leave!!!

"Happy Birthday sweetie and I hope this year is the best year ever!!! Davis and I loved being a part of this day and we love you very much!!!"

I Must Share!!!

Noah and Davis worked on a video today and I wanted to share with you all...



My boy is soo cute!!!

Sabbatical Highligths!!!

Here are some highlights from the week....

We drove to the top of the mountain. It was very chilly up there!

The winding road

An AMAZING view!

My niece Coryn posing for the camera!! She was in awe of the mountains.

Snow in June. We are not in Maryland anymore!!

We loved the view behind us. We had a wonderful day at Pikes Pike!!!

I took my niece to the Cave of the Winds. We had a blast!!!

The start of our adventure!

Coryn acting scared!!!

I am glad I didn't have to crawl in that hole!!

Watch your head!

A view of the canyon behind Coryn.

We learned a lot and had fun being stuck in a cave for an hour!!!

Chris Tomlin!!!

This week we had the opportunity to go see Chris Tomlin in concert at New Life church in Colorado Springs. It was an amazing concert and I can't believe how many of his songs we sing church. He is one talented guy!

He sang a new song and it really spoke to me. Here is the chorus:

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

When I think about this chorus all I can do is think about our church and the cities that surround it. "For greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in Lanham, Greenbelt, Glenn Dale, Bowie, College Park, Annapolis...etc"

LOOK out CCF greater things are still to be done!!! He is not done with us! Let's keep running the race and keep reaching for greater things!!!

This is a song you must listen to:

Many Firsts!!!!

As new parents we have had a lot of firsts with Davis. It has been a joy experiencing these first and at times so sad that our boy is growing up!

Well this Sunday we experienced another first with Davis. When we picked Davis up from his classroom after church he was so excited to show us what he did,

This is the picture that he gave us:

Here was the conversation that we had:
Us: "Awesome Davis...You did a great job...Who is this man in the picture?"
Davis: "Jonah"
Us: "Did you learn about Jonah today?"
Davis: "Yes"
Us: "What did you learn?"
Davis: "He in boat...eat by big fish."
Us: "Awesome buddy!"

Noah and I were so excited that Davis learned something at church and was able to remember it when we picked him up. He has been able to tell us about Jonah every time we ask him. My boy is ready to learn Bible stories!!!!

Let's get this PARTY started!!!

I am so glad that Noah and I decided to spend our sabbatical in Colorado Springs. What an AMAZING area to live. I can't believe the temperature or the views. I can't get enough of the mountains!!!!

During our trip out here I was starting to find myself getting into a bit of a funk. It was getting hard for me to just sit around and do nothing. We live a fast pace life and we are always on the go, but with getting ready for our trip, the cruise, and driving out here I was feeling the need to start accomplishing the goels that we set for this sabbitical time:

• Spiritual renewal
• Physical renewal
• Family time
• Time to reflect on life and take inventory on what needs to stay or leave

I really need to take this time to look deep into Tricia Kaye:

• Who am I really?
• Why do I worry so much about what people think or say behind my back?
• When am I going to stop pleasing man and start pleasing God?
  
• Why do I need so many opinions when I want to make a decision?
  
• Why isn't God's and Noah's enough (they are the ones that will truly not judge me)?
• What are my top priorities in my life?

I read this quote from Holly Furtick's blog and it is so true and I am going to keep it very close to my heart this summer: "He who lives by the approval of others will die by the absence of the same."

So if you think about it please continue to pray for our time away from normal life and that we come back renewed, refreshed, and ready to go!!!

Father's Day!!!

There are three Father's in my life that I admire and am so blessed to have had and have in my life today. I wanted to take this Father's day blog to honor these three men:

My Father: Jose Raymond Rivera

What an AMAZING dad he was. I am who I am today because of this man!!! He was my biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. Father's Day hasn't been easy these last two years. I long so much to call and say Happy Father's Day or to buy him a gift and send him a card. I know he is happy where he is but I still ache to talk to him and to see him. What I miss the most about my father is all the time I would hear him tell me he loved me and how proud he was of me. My father touched so many lives and I still see the fruit of his labor. I keep a picture of him on my desk at the church, so I can always be reminded that my dad ran the race and he finished strong and so must I. I love and miss you daddy!!!

My Father in-law: Joseph Anthony Kaye

What a MAN!!! I love my father in-law and I hold him so dear to my heart. Since day one he accepted me into his family (that is the man he is). I look forward to seeing him because you get four things when you see Joe Kaye:

1. A huge smile
2. A hand raised in the air
3. A big hello
4. A big bear hug

You would think...how can someone always smile? Well, Joe Kaye is always smiling and that is one of the things that I admire about him. I wish I smiled half as much as him. Just like I was blessed with three moms, I have been blessed with two dads.
Joe Kaye has meet needs for me that I have needed from a dad and just like my own father I have never felt judged and I know that he is proud of me. He is always there when I need him.
I will never forget:

• One day after having Davis that I couldn't get out of bed and I was home alone. I was in a lot of pain and I needed a certain medicine. Dad went and got it, let himself in the house, and walked upstairs to my bedroom and gave me the medicine.
  
• Or the time when I shut my finger in my van door and I called over to their house (they only live 1.5 miles away) and all I got out was, "I got hurt...I need you...please help." He had no idea what happened or where I was and him and my mother in-law showed up with in minutes. I will never forget seeing him with no shirt on and his shorts weren't even zipped up, but all her cared was getting to me. If that is not love, then what is?

"Juju I love you and I am so blessed to call you dad. I pray that we have many many more years of Father's Day. Thank you for all you love and support and for being the "Hatme" that you are. Happy Father's Day!!!!"

My Husband (Davis' Potter): Noah Joesph Kaye

I don't even know where to begin. There is so much I could say about this AMAZING man, husband, and father. When I would dream about what my husband would be like or the father of my children, I never came close to what I got. Man God Hooked a sister up!!!

Every day Noah amazes me and the minute I think I have figured out the type of dad he is, he does something to throw me off. Noah has a lot of demands on his life and yet he does everything in his powers to put his family first. Since the day we brought Davis home Noah has tried to have healthy boundaries and make time for his family and these past 2 1/2 years he has succeeded.
"Noah, you are an AMAZING father and Davis Loves you very much. I love seeing his eyes light up when you come through the front door. Thank you for being there for us and loving us. We would be lost without you. Happy Father's Day!!!"

Thank God for Coryn!

My niece Coryn is with us as we make our journey to Colorado Springs. She will fly home(Mississippi)at the end of next week. She has been a blessing to have around. She has been meeting most of Davis' needs when we are in the car. I would be so tired if I had to keep climbing in the back for his pacifier, headphones, cup, etc... I can't tell how many times he has dropped something.

She was here to go with Noah to CMT awards. I would of hated standing for 3 hours in a huge crowd. They soaked it up! She also gave Noah and I an opportunity to have a date last night in Nashville. Thanks Coryn!

Most of all I am honored to spend time with her. Can't believe she is sixteen! My nieces are growing up so fast and it makes me feel old. I pray they continue to love the Lord and make the right choices.