Our Second Annual Drago Weekend

Lydia and Grandmom
Damien and I during our morning on the beach
Emme and Faith on the rides (this was Faith's first ride riding alone:)

Emme Momma and Faith on the hot air balloon

Faith Chasing a seagull

Lydia and Aunt Erin lounging at the beach
Gramps Faith and Emme in the sand

We had such a wonderful time this past weekend with the Drago Family at our annual Drago Weekend. God gave us BEAUTIFUL weather. Thank you Uncle Pete and Aunt Denise for your generosity in opening your home to all of us. We all got to go spend some time on the beach and Damien and I even got to go in the water. The girls had fun playing in the sand, riding the rides and making upcakes with Aunt Denise. (Thank you for that creative idea to bless the girls, Aunt D.) We made some wonderful memories being on the beach together, going on rides with the girls and playing games together as a family. When we were on the beach on Saturday, a man came over to us and asked us if we were going to be taking the girls on the rides because he had tickets he was not going to be using. He gave us 4 books of tickets for free! What a blessing that was from the Lord! God is so kind!!!!
Damien and I even got to spend some time on the beach together Sunday morning reading the Bible, praying and talking. That time was so sweet and refreshing. Thank you Grandmom, Gramps, Aunt Denise, Uncle Pete, Aunt Erin, Uncle Aaron, Heather, and Kevin for caring for the girls so well (as always). The girls love getting to spend time with you and you were so kind to give Damien and I some time to spend together. We love you all and were so grateful to get to spend time with you all.

Five Months with Our Sweet Lydia

Our sweet Lydia turned five months today. She has continued to amaze us with her content spirit and happy heart. What a blessing she is to our family. The girls love to make her laugh and love to hold her and snuggle with her. She is a snuggle bug that is for sure. I cannot get enough of her cuddles. We continue to thank God for how richly He has blessed us with this little girl.

Fun Pictures

It is so hard to believe that another week is through. Time seems to go by so quickly! Such a great reminder to savor every minute with my little ladies. Here are some fun pictures of our week together. The jumpster is back:) Thank you Uncle Ben for this kind gift...it sure has gotten its use:)
Here are the rainbows the girls made at Drago Academy this past week. We were learning about Noah.
Emme, Faith, and Josiah Valentine enjoying an indoor playground
Emme proudly displaying her colored in letter B
" Hmmmmm.....do I like thus stuff?" This was Lydia's first rice cereal experience.
Faith loving on Lydia and Lydia loving it!
This is on the same indoor playground...it is three stories high....Faith was loving it!

My Little Evangelist

The girls in their" car"
These are the sweet words I heard coming from the girl's room this morning:

Emme talking to Faith~

"Do you love God?
You need to obey God.
Obeying God means doing what He tells you to do.
When you don't obey Him its a sin.
Sinning put Jesus on the cross.
Do you know what Jesus did after He died on the cross? He rose again."

After that serious conversation they broke out into fits of laughter being silly with one another. It was so sweet to hear Emme reminding herself and her sister of the cross. How neat to think of them reminding each other of the Gospel, encouraging one another towards heaven:)

Drago Academy

Emme enjoying school

Today was Emme's first day of preschool. I am homeschooling her with a book called "Little Hands to Heaven." It was so much fun! Today we learned about God creating everything from nothing. He spoke and it came to be. In the picture Emme is drawing things that God created. She had fun drawing the planets on the black piece of paper and was asking me their specific colors:) We are also learning about letter "A." Thank you Shannon for all your organizational help and for sharing so graciously with me. You are such a blessing! I am so excited for this new season of learning with Emme. I love spending time with my little girl and praise God for the blessing of being able to teach Emme at home.

Drago Happenings

Nanny and the girls


This past weekend Damien's grandmother, Nanny came for a visit. We had such a nice time spending time with her and girls were so glad to have Nanny here. Emme kept telling her over and over how much she loved her and how happy she was that she came.
Faith in her "big girl bed"
Then on Monday we moved Faith into her "big girl bed." Another sign that she is getting bigger. Thank you mom and dad for the bed:) It is fun to see her and Emme in those beds together.
Emme before her haircut
Today I took Emme on date and we went to get her hair cut. She compromised with getting it cut to her shoulders. She wanted the lady to keep cutting after that, but we decided to get used to the shoulder cut first:) I think after her bath tonight she realized that she did really like having long hair and was pulling on it to try to make it longer. It will grow really fast I am sure:)
We had a sweet time together over ice cream cones at Dairy Queen talking about obeying God. She said, "Just like Smee obeyed Captain Hook when he gave instructions, that is how we need to obey God." I love her analogies:) Tonight she said another sweet thing after I had asked her forgiveness. She said, "Momma, Jesus is the only one who can help us obey." I am so grateful for the bits of truth that God prompts Emme to remind me during the day. What a blessing. God is doing a neat work in our little girl.

AFTER

My Dear Husband

My three ladies loving on their daddy

The Lord has been so kind to bless me with a husband whose heart is to serve others. I want to honor Damien for the way that he has selflessly served others.

Love,
How honoring and pleasing to the Lord are the sacrifices that you make to serve your family and friends by helping them move, mowing their lawns, or caring for their souls with a phone call or email and speaking God's truth to them. I have seen God use you to encourage and help others by showing intentional love and care for them. God has given you compassion for other's souls and you have obeyed Him, by looking to their needs. You put others before yourself and tirelessly serve those who are in need.

This verse comes to mind when I think of Damien's servant's heart, Matthew 25:40 ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Thank you for your example, Love. God shines so brightly through you as you care for others.