Alice turns ONE!

Our sweet and funny girl was born 1 year (err... and a few weeks) ago. Alice Rebecca Powell came into the world and brought so much joy with her. We have loved every minute and every day with her. She is a loving girl. She loves to dance and give hugs. Her favorite foods are strawberries and chicken. She babbles all the time and loves to tell us what an elephant, cat and dog 'say'. She loves books and for her mama and daddy to read to her. She will grab a book and bring it to us and sit in our lap. Her favorite is "Peek-a-zoo" and she wants to 'read' it everyday. And she loves to clap everytime she hears or sees someone else clapping, even on TV! 

 

 

The birthday girl

 

Beautiful birthday cake

(ordered by this non-baking mama)

Tasty cookies

 

Yummy cupcakes

 

Food!

 

Yay birthday!

 

Thanks Aunt Aubrey!

 

First taste of sugar!

 

Sweet girl

 

Our neighbor Maggie

 

Opening gifts

 

So fun

 

Lots of great books!

 

Stacking rings

We found her sitting among presents

 

Family pic

 

Our 1 year old

 

 

 

Lately with the Powells

Rainer was gone for two weeks this past month on the annual Royal Servants recruiting trip in the Northeast. They had a good time sharing with students at churches and schools. Once again they had a big snow storm hit while they were up there. We missed him here at home! When he got back we went for a long weekend to visit Bryan and Meredith, and to see my grandmother Babbie (Alice) on the way home. In all, Rainer went to 15 states in 18 days!

 

Rainer's speaking partners Job and Hank

 

Tight squeeze!

 

Rainer with students in Massachusetts

 

After talking at a school in York, Pennsylvania

 

Drove past the Dan Patrick studio in Connecticut

 

Lots of ice fishing

 

So happy to have him home!

 

Someone missed daddy

 

I think she wants to go next time

 

Errands with mommy

 

Family cookout and campfire

 

Hobo packs on the fire: potatoes, peppers, onion, steak

 

Fun in the woods

 

Great visit with Bryan and Meredith

 

We had to makeshift a high chair!

 

Got to drive to Montreat

 

Found the family house we used to visit

when I was in Elementary school

 

Lake Susan in Montreat

 

We know who Alice was cheering for

 

Aunt Meredith!

 

We went to a few donut shops in Asheville

 

Alice's first time in the snow

 

Sweet Babbie

 

Fun in the hot tub!

 

Great weekend in Memphis with the Bowies

 

Alice and her cousin Harper

 

 

Verses lately...

I love watching Alice explore the world and learn new things everyday. Last week she was taking a bath and reaching to grab the white/grayish thing she thought was a pole or column only to find her hand splashing threw the water pouring out of the faucet.

It's really exciting to see Alice do something new every single day. She literally has to learn everything, one moment at a time. I also learn something new everyday in my relationship with God. Some days, I learn the same thing I learned the day before.

I like to keep my email inbox 'empty'. However, I have a couple emails that I leave in there. Every day I get a daily Bible verse from K-LOVE radio. That's 365 email every year. I keep a couple in my inbox that I need to read often and continue to remember. A few have been in my inbox for over a year. Here are the five verses I have kept close:

"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love."  Ephesians 4:2

"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."  Ephesians 4:29

"Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."  Proverbs 12:18

"Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king."
1 Peter 2:17

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Hebrews 13:8

Now reading them all together I realize a lot are about the tongue. I can't hear that enough!