Congratulations!!!

Saturday Grace and Micalie participated in Regionals for 4-H.

They Won in County so they were able to advance.

Regionals consist of 10 counties.

Before the event.

Their display table.
They had to have a exhibit and a power point presentation.
They had chosen to focus on Organic vs. Non-organic foods.

These are just the participants for Marshall County.

They represented all categories from Healthy living to sewing, cooking etc....

Receiving their FIRST place ribbons for Regionals... Yes 1st place!

These girls were so excited...

Here is a picture before they were recognized.

Congratulations Ladies, now they get to advance to STATE!

I must say, when they were presenting and being interviewed I was so impressed. You can stay in the room at the front just no contact and you can hear each presentation. I was so impressed with these two and how much they had researched an knew.

From aspartame to MSG, (only they didn't say MSG they knew the real name!) to what they cause and symptoms of reactions from being exposed. I was blown away... When it was over, I asked how on earth did you guys know all that...

"We've been researching"! Congratulations Girls...

Good luck at State!

Award's Day

I'm not sure how it happened but this year has already come and gone... sniff sniff,

my babies are another year older and soon to be in 5th and 9th grade, makes me weepy just thinking about it, I will warn you know, senior years, I WILL be a basketcase, go ahead and accept it! :-(

Waiting for the program to start!

Being recognized for all A's for the year

She was recognized for 1st place at County roundup for Her healthy living presentation

She was recognized for top reader in her class.

She was the second top reader at AES!

She was recognized and recieved a trophy for having over 300 AR points.

She had 410.

Sweet friends.

And she recieved National Physical Fitness.

We are so proud of you Grace, you are beautiful on the inside and out and we are so blessed to be your Mom and Dad.

We love you!

Greg, Mom and Kacey were there and she told us a thousand times, thank you for coming, I'm so glad you got to come, did she actually think we would miss it for the world... I don't think so.

Hello sweet summer, and oh year, time.... can you please slow down some!

You are making this Momma, tired, old and sad!

Happy Thursday all!

Field Day 2011!

Field Day is so different from when I was in school, for field day we played basketball, softball and kickball...

Today's field day is wild! The kids are wild and the day makes me feel old!

I worked two hours on the dry slide in the heat, and again, I was the only one at my slide and so for two hours, I said, don't go down two at a time, ONE AT A TIME, go down on your bottom, No you can't go head first, I said ONE AT A TIME. It made me feel old and cranky!

Tug- a war

instead of a dunking both, they had a spray both...

Right in the face!

but she didn't mind!

Sweet friends

Alyssa, Brittney and Grace

By lunch the mud was ever present!

Again, they didn't mind.

So thankful I have the opportunity to spend time with my girl.

I'm blessed.

Bubble time!

They loved it, I couldn't stand the thoughts of it, but again, I'm old!

Then for the kids favorite part of the day, they line up at 1:45 and for the next 30 minutes they get sprayed but the fire department, luxuries of a small town life!

I don't know who has more fun the kids or the fire department!

They get a little wild during this especially!

The guy on top likes to start spraying it short, so the parents get close for pictures then he turns it up and fans and many parents got soaked!

I may be old, but I can move, I did not get wet, at least not this year!

We thought it was over, I started up the catwalk to go check out my girl while she was going to change and then boom, but thanks to the catwalk and the alcoves, for the doors, I stayed dry...

What a fun day....

We completed the day at the public library and then to the orthodontist.

We are all proud owners of public library cards, and why haven't we done that before!

Thankful Thursday!

Look at the smile on this girl!

Who just happened to
Win first place at the County Round up yesterday on her Healthy Living Project.
I was so impressed when she was telling me some of the questions the judges asked and what she gave as answers, WOW, she blows me away.
Once I said, how did you know that?
She said, Mom, I researched it!
;-)
I am so thankful today and full.
We had wonderful revival services this week.

I cried all my makeup off before I got to work today,
not because I'm sad, I'm just full and admittedly a little tired and I, like my
oldest daughter do not handle being tired very well! :-)
I listened to the VBS music this morning and it is so good and the message
just made me weep.
Weep with thankfulness and excitement. Our church is healing and putting one foot in
front of the other. People are stepping up and I'm thankful
I'm ready and can't wait to see what God does next!

Wordless Wednesday! On her way to county Roundup!

Gossip Bench!

Our gossip bench has found a new function...

Reading/chocolate milk bench...

My girl loves to read and has her AR points for the 9 weeks usually the first week.

I'm so thankful she loves to read...

December 19 - Star of Wonder!

Tonight Grace and the Children's chior did a musical on Hope and of the Birth of Jesus told by the stars!

Here is my star... Meet Lucky Star!
She did wonderful... All the children did a GREAT job!

Afterwards, we had a fellowship time and a special visitor!

Santa I want a bow and arrow and a bb gun!

What happen to my girly girl!?

Merry Christmas from The Narrell's!

Momma Time Blues

I remember taking her to Kindergarten... Where has the time gone. Now she is an 8th grader.

For me, it happened all at once, she went from being this 8lb baby I was overprotective with to this beautiful young lady. Oh how I wish it was still that easy to protect her, keep her feed, she slept, changed her and loved on her. Now... now I'm supposed to start letting go... not letting go but in some ways letting go, so she can grow into who God wants her to be. To become who she will be. I've not figured out how to slow time yet so I am trying to enjoy each minute and cherish it because tomorrow it changes...

And I find myself thinking deeply more. It's not just diaper changes and time-outs now. It's wanting to explain the world to her. To teach her kindness. To tell her why things happen in a way that makes her want to be good and loving. To show her by example that confidence is power.... And Me, I second guess myself way to much. Probably shouldn't have given that to her. Maybe we should have let her have it. Did you see how sad she was? Did you hear what she said? Maybe I should have been harder on her. Maybe I was too hard. And you just have to trust that you are doing your best and that for every mistake you make, there are a thousand more victories. And you grow in the fact that, in setting an example, in laying the foundation for her, you become better. You have to live what you want to teach them because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and I want my apples to be good and kind, giving and understanding. I want my apples to be strong and independent and yet sensitive and tender-hearted.
But I'm having trouble letting my apples fall from the tree... I sure want to hang on, with all my might and heart... letting go is hard.
Grace is in 4th... She changes classes this year.
I am trying to enjoy today and not look ahead to much...
It is too overwhelming... I'll worry about high school next year..

This year we are off to conquer Spanish, advanced Math and a Science teacher we hear is a "beast"!

We are praying for an excellent school year for both our babies, but Father time, could you please slow down....

(Grace's by herself pictures didn't save on my card :-( what's up with that)