Thankfulness #465-473

Today is my 9th anniversary!  

I am so thankful for the following:
465.  I am thankful that I am married to my best friend. 
466.  Sharing my life with someone so awesome. 

467.  I am thankful that two are better than one; together we stronger than we are apart.
 

468.  I love having someone to laugh with.
 

469.  He is here to hold me when life gets me down.
 

470.   I am so thankful that I have someone to come home to.
 

471.  Jim challenges me in my walk with the Lord and it is a blessing.  

472.  I am thankful that he is willing to help with the laundry.

473.  And honestly, it is nice knowing that he is near and that we get to cuddle.

I love you! I am thankful for you and all of the many ways God has blessed our marriage!

Thankfulness #414-#464

Why we are thankful for DADDY!

414. You are YOU!

415. You are almost always calm.

416. You read the Bible to us.

417. You are fun!

418. You always try to make it home for dinner.

419. You encourage us to be our best.

420. You make us smile.

421. You are an amazing husband.

422. You are fun to play with.

423. You keep us safe.

424. You take us out to eat.

425. You play the Wii with us.

426. You play Dead Gorilla with us.

427. You throw us high.

428. You have a loving personality.

429. You are patient.

430. You are FUN Daddy.

431. You complete Mommy.

432. You play games with us.

433. You joke around with us.

434. You are holy.

435. You are godly.

436. You love the Lord.

437. You are our hero.

438. You watch the Braves with us.

439. You watch the Bulldogs with us.

440. You play princess dress-up with us.

441. You sing songs with us.

442. You lead us in family worship.

443. You are the grill master.

444. You are the best Mario player ever.

445. You play the guitar.

446. You love books.

447. You send sweet emails to mom.

448. You like to send mom sweet texts.

449. You give good hugs.

450. You are MARVELOUS.

451. You like to build train tracks.

452. You like to play cars.

453. You like to read Fancy Nancy books.

454. You are very smart.

455. You are a great Pastor Jim.

456. You like to play outside.

457. You like to be our coach.

458. You like to throw the football and baseball.

459. You are living .

460. You are peaceful.

461. You are good.

462. You are faithful.

463. You are self-controlled.

464. You work hard for our family.

Thankfulness #401-413

This is Anna Kate's thankfulness list for today. I have decided to as the kids to tell me what they are thankful for over the next few days. This is Anna Kate's list. I must say that all I said to her was "Anna Kate, what are you thankful for today?"

401. Liberty (HUH? I am not quite sure I know why she said this, although it did make me chuckle!
402. My friend Salsa
403. My sister Sadie
404. My mommy
405. Ms. Shelley
406. Jake and Judd
407. My daddy
408. Nae-Nae
409. Food
410. JESUS
411. The Celebration (I do not know what she is talking about.)
412. Curious George
413. Books

Our orders from come from the Top!!

“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.”

I belong to God. Jim belongs to God. We’ve committed both our individual lives and our marriage to His calling and purpose

It was God’s leading that brought us to Crosspointe Baptist Church in Millington, Tennessee in August of 2007. He gave us a passion for this city, for this church and over the last few years we’ve developed a love for each and every one of you. The blessings of God have been abundant and you have made this journey so wonderful. I’m convinced that our days here have been ordained by the Lord.

That’s why this is so difficult. Through many months of prayer, we are convinced that God is asking us to travel down a new path, a path that will lead us away from Crosspointe and away from the CPBC family. Our home church, Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA, has asked Jim to be their new pastor.  As of Sunday, November 13th, he has accepted their invitation.  Our tenure will conclude on the last day of November. This decision is the most difficult one we’ve had to make up to this point in our ministry. The difficulty comes not in saying yes to the Lord, but in saying goodbye to all of you.

Proverbs 16:9. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

In our hearts we never thought this day would come. We’ve served here with the mindset that we would never leave. However, the Lord has been stirring our hearts and we can say with full certainty that our time here is coming to an end.

We’ve become family over the past few years and now we’re moving away. As hard as it is to say goodbye the fact is we’re still family. As a matter of fact, maybe goodbye is the wrong word. The phrase “see you later” seems more appropriate.

God directs our steps and promises not to leave us nor forsake us. I’m confident that if God is leading us on to something new and wonderful then the same is true for all of you. If God is preparing to bless Jim and me with a new work then He’s preparing to bless all of you with a new pastor. We really believe that your best days are yet ahead.

We love you Crosspointe!!!

Thankfulness #386-400

Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good!!

Thanking Him for these autumn moments thus far...

386. Colorful leaves

387. Getting a Starbucks coffee

388. all the laundry clean as we start a new week

389. Ripe apples filling the fruit basket

390. Early morning fires to warm up beside

391. I am thankful for a big yard with lots and lots of trees

392. Listening to my boys cheer on the cardinals in the World Series and the Bulldogs to victory over Florida.

393. Sticking hand prints on the refrigerator and the smell of maple syrup kisses

394. All of the veterans that we will remember this month

395. For friends and so many encouraging texts and phone calls

396. Mema taking the boys to see Dolphin Tale

397. Spending sometime with just the girls

398. That the children are all snuggled into their beds sleeping soundly.

399. That the main living part of the house is picked up, unpacked, and mostly in order.

400. Toliet paper. I am so thankful for toilet paper. Aren’t you?

Happy Birthday to You!

While we were in Georgia a few weeks ago, we celebrated Sadie's 1st birthday with family. My mom did a great job getting her cake ordered and picked-up while Jim and I were on the cruise. 

 Sadie didn't enjoy her birthday party. She was ill and hungry.

 She didn't really know what to think about the icing on her hands.

 Well, that bite was pretty tasty...

 no..No..NO... Cake is not what she wanted to eat at this time. She cried most of the time until I finally fixed her a real dinner. Poor baby, she hated her cake and ice cream!

 Aww, she got her first baby doll.

There it is... her dashing smile!

Baby Sadie Turns One

My sweet baby Sadie is 1! Even though this is my fourth time around, I still can't get over how fast they grow up. I remember when I had my first, everyone said "don't blink because they will grow up fast". I didn't believe it was true at the time but now I understand why they warned me.

Words simply cannot express the joy that our precious baby girl has brought to our lives over the past year.

Sadie you are no longer an infant, but considered a toddler. And toddle you do. You are no longer nursing just drinking rice milk. Gone are the jars of baby food (you have five teeth with two more on the way!). I’ve put away the excersaucer and baby swing many months ago. I have to buy you real shoes because you navigate this whole walking thing too well. You are in every way attached to mommy just like your sister was at this age. You are an extension of my right hip. I have learned once again this past year to do almost everything with one hand. Daddy says you are spoiled and I say you are loved. I just cherish this time because I know that it will not last long. I realize that it will pass quickly.

A whole year brings so many changes in the life of a baby, and it’s bittersweet. Gone are those precious real baby moments as I start to see a little personality emerge.

I’m sad to lose those baby moments, but happy to see those fun, and funny, changes that are surfacing. Teasing us when handing us a toy then pulling it away while laughing; scooting away from us across the room as we call your name to come back, then looking over your shoulder and squealing with delight. Just today you have started holding a phone to your ear to “talk.” We love to see the excitement when you see your big brothers or sister walk through the door. Signing “milk,” “more, “please” and pageant waving to complete strangers, but only if I am holding you. A certain pickiness when served different types of foods, and falling in love with puffcorn and mandarin oranges.  My favorite is to see your beautiful smile light up the room.

Bittersweet yes, but a part life. My hope for you as you grow is to be a woman whole seeks to serve God, know Jesus intimately and have a life full of joy. I am also hoping she doesn’t develop my stubborn streak – what is that they say about what goes around?

We love you so much Sadie Grace! You spunky little lady!

Just One Afternoon...

Today we were spending some time outside before Jim arrived home from work. I decided it would be a good afternoon to try and take some pictures of the kids in the yard, little did I know that I would capture such a sweet moment. 

This is all of the kids trying to get the cat, Spot. They ended up surrounding her after Sadie chased her across the yard calling her "dog." Dog is Sadie's newest word and she uses it for all furry creatures.

Here is where the moment was captured: Just after taking the above picture, I announced "Daddy's home" and the following pictures tell the rest of the story.

I know that I have blogged about this daily event before but I just loved that I know how the whole experience captured.

Here is another point to ponder: How often do we run to our heavenly Father with this much excitement, just to be in his presence?

I HEART the Fair!

Big Buddy, Nana, Mema, Uncle Dan and Aunt Jessica took the kids to the fair while Jim and I cruised in the Bahamas. Cousins make life sweeter!

This is round 2 of the Georgia National Fair. Jim, Dan, Jessica and I took the kids back to the fair Saturday morning.

Jim and I both get queasy on the rides so we decided to alternate. I decided that it would be fun to take the boys on a big ride, one that I loved when I was younger.

Oh boy, little did I realize that ride was much HIGHER as an older mother of four children! This was craziness. We went really high in the air and then they tilted us toward the ground. I just held on tightly to Judd because I knew he was going to fall right out, but look at him he is LOVING it. No Fear just like his daddy! I do have a side story about the this ride. 

Jake is going more afraid of heights like me. We were told that he was not happy about riding the Ferris Wheel, which I don't blame him. What is the point of being so high up? Jim being the good dad he is decided that this needed a "when I was a boy" story. The story goes a little something like this : When I was a boy I grew up climbing up and down the really tall grain elevators at Big Buddies business. There isn't any reason to be afraid.  Keeping that in mind, we were on this really high, tilting ride and a some point during one of the tilting moments Jake says "mydaddygrewupclimbingongrainbins." It was really cute that he was using that story as reassurance. 

Look we found more cousins! Hi Sunni and Mary Kate!

2 boys 1 sheep 6 seconds

On Saturday, we took the kids back for Day 2 of the Georgia National Fair.  The boys got to enjoy and fun opportunity. The previous day they saw that you could ride sheep for fun. They wanted to be Wooly Riders. Wooly Riders is open to any child ages 3-6 weighing less than 60 pounds. We decided to sign them up for the 1:30 ride. We arrived at 1:15 so they could get there gear on, weigh in and receive a few instructions before the race started. Jake weighed in at exactly 60 pounds. Both boys enjoyed the race, however, Jake was stepped on by the sheep so I am sure that he is glad that this is his last year to compete. On the other hand, Judd will be the first to sign up next year, maybe we will even get him a pair of chaps to wear. 

 Here goes Jake.....

 Here comes Judd.....

6:37 p.m.

A quick four-wheeler ride around the yard with Daddy always make the girls happy!

Good bye Summertime!

These are some pictures that I found tonight. I thought it only suitable that I post pictures from our fun summer on this first day of Autumn. 

This is one of the sunflowers that grew in our garden this summer! We loved seeing them grow so tall. 

This is Anna Kate's rotten face.

 Anna Kate was playing with Sadie's feet. Sweet 10 month old feet!

Thankfulness #377-385

So thankful for:


377. Finally finished the book, From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out ,
 that I have been reading for months.
378. Football season has hit the Perdue home
379. Our first week of Classical Conversations
380. A God who never leaves us or forsakes us
381. Hearing Jake quote Psalm 23:1-6 from memory
382. Memorizing and meditating on theses verses Psalm 40:1-3.

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

383. The ladies in my Friday morning Bible Study are such a blessing. I am so thankful that we are studying the Word together.

384. Awesome staff and deacons who are willing to help change my flat tire as I was headed back to Crosspointe for Sunday evening services. 

385. 5 hours of kid free shopping while my awesome mom watched Sadie and Jim had the other three.

one...tooth...three

As is the tradition in the Perdue home the kids go to the dentist when they are three. For Anna Kate, August 17, 2011 was her first trip to the dentist office. At first she was very apprehensive about all of the little gadgets, but she did let our super awesome hygienist, Amy Kellum, clean her teeth. The funniest part was when Amy tried to put the suction in Anna Kate's mouth, Anna Kate was scared and jumped so quickly I thought she was going to get down out of the chair. I must admit Anna Kate did very well and I am proud to say that 3 out of 4 kids enjoy the dentist. Let's just hope Sadie keeps the record going when she turns three.

Anna Kate was listening very carefully to Ms. Amy as she discussed the teeth cleaning process.

She was a little nervous about all of these gadgets going in her mouth.

She LOVED the sunglasses and the mirrors in her mouth. 

She did such a great job as she got her teeth cleaned.