December Pictures

Here is Ryleigh, Kailyn and mom hanging out by the first fire of the year. Even though you can't see the fire it is there just to the right. I think these pictures will catch us up with Kailyn. She is getting to be a big girl and is starting to want to sit up in the high chair and in the grocery cart. She is such a joy in our lives and can't wait to spend her first Christmas together!
Mommy and Kailyn in her new outfit that a co-worker had given me a few days before the concert. She looked quite cute!
This is our family photo at the chorus concert.
Here is daddy and Kailyn after his Christmas Concert.
I had Kailyn on my bed and I was watching her while I was getting ready in the bathroom and I looked over to see her and Ryleigh hanging out together. I grabbed my camera to get a shot of this sweet moment!

Catching up for November

Where has the month of November gone? I feel like it was the beginning of November a few days ago. Here are some updates with what we have been doing. Here is where I spent my day raking up our back and front yards getting ready for the leaf guys to come and suck them up. Kailyn was great to take a long nap this afternoon.

My Winter Village table centerpiece. Holidays fit for a King was great and I enjoyed learning some new ideas about Christmas and Children and Cooking for a crowd. I feel ready to entertain a large group of 20.

Kailyn had her 6 month checkup, she is doing good 12lbs 9.5 oz. She is still in the 10th percentile but is growing great! She seems to be healthy. She is trying to sit up and wants to be on the move but is only moving her arms and legs with her tummy keeping her still.

Halloween 2009

We took Kailyn and Ryleigh out for a walk to check out the neighboehood! Kailyn was the cutest butterfly in the neighborhood!

Kailyn and Ryleigh ready to go out for a walk!

We went to our church's fall festival to have some fun as a family! Mommy and daddy took Kailyn down the big blow-up slide and we watched the ponies!

Four years of marriage!

Brad and I celebrated 4 years of marriage on Thursday October 22. We were able to go out for dinner and spend some great time with Kailyn. We all went to McCorrmick and Schmick's at Crabtree and it was great. I had the salmon and Brad had the trout. It is a pricey place but nice for a special occassion. The food and the service was top notch. We had desert too! Brad gave me a used Ipod to replace mine that got ruined by some soda over the summer and I gave him a gift card for a massage. We are so thankful for the years that the Lord has given to us to share this life together and look forward to what He has in store for us in the future.

Kailyn is eating cereal!

Kailyn is eating cereal and it is a great adventure! She is starting to figure it out. She is growing and changing so much. She is starting to play in her exersaucer and pushing buttons and grasping some of the toys on it. She is very inquisitive and checking things out. Here are some pictures of her as she is getting bigger. Passing the 5 month mark and looking forward to the changes that are ahead at 6 months!

Eating cereal for the first time!

She is eating some peas now too! Those pictures are coming soon!

Kailyn Pictures

Here are some recent pictures of Kailyn hanging out on her rainforest mat. She has great control of her head. She is rolling over onto her stomach now. She is getting so big!

More Panthers pictures

Ready for bed!

Jake and the offensive line.

Aunt Sarah and Kailyn

She says "Go Panthers!"

Carolina Panthers Game

After going to Beth Moore my mom and I headed to Charlotte to meet the rest of the family to see the Panthers play. We had great seats 50 yard line 12 rows up from the field. Kailyn enjoyed it in her cheerleading outfit. She did make on the Jumbotron for only a few seconds before they went back to the game. She was exhaused by the end of the night but grandma and grandpa took her back to the hotel early. It was a great time!

Beth Moore Simulcast

My mom and I attended the Beth Moore Simulcast back in August. It was a great event and the Lord used it to spur on my desire to delight in him.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

This was the main text but she also pulled out several verses throughout this chapter. Here are some of my notes and thoughts that I have learned.

1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires

We have to have a sustatined longing, not be swayed by our emotions from one thing to the next.

2. Beneath the desires of our hearts is the heart of our desire.

3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities

Grant me a heart Lord that delights in You.

4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight

What is taking a bite out of your delight, delight is your right!

Jealousy

Anger

Worry

5. To make room for delight, we've got to commit

You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

Micah 7:18b

6. Nothing is passive about patiently waiting for desire to turn into delight.

We need to stop and listen to Him. Praise Him while waiting.

7. Till faith becomes sight trust God and do good.

Dwell in the land that God had given to us.

They feast on the abundance of your house, you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:8

What is going on in our world?

The Bensen's are doing good. I have no pictures with this post but Kailyn is having a great time next door with Mrs. Johnson and Nadia. I need to take my camera over and get a picture of the two of them together. Kailyn seems to be enjoying watching her dance and play. They both conk out for long afternoon naps. Brad started back at school and things seem to be going good this semester so far! I am surviving being away from my sweet girl but miss her like crazy. You can be praying that God will give me peace and contentment where I am in my life right now. I certainly am looking for God to fill me very day and to show me opportunities at work. Ryleigh still loves Kailyn is always excited to see her when we get home at night. We went to Atlantic Beach last weekend and Kailyn was at Grandma and Grandpa Gibson's house. We enjoyed our time away at the beach. Being looking for a post to come when we head to the Panthers game on Saturday night. Kailyn is going to wear her Panthers cheerleader outfit. She will be the cutest baby at the game!

Summertime '09

Here are some pictures of Kailyn from the summer. She is getting bigger everyday. I have gone back to work so Brad has been Mr. Mom and doing a great job. I miss her so much during the day but appreciate the time that I have with her. This past Sunday Kailyn spent the night with grandma and grandpa Gibson. It gave Brad and I a chance to go to a movie.

She enjoys lifting her head to look around the room.

I was able to go to a Deeper Still Conference July 31-August 1. Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Prisilla Shirer were the speakers. The Word was brought to the hearts of all of us. The nuggets that I received and taken with me,

1. Don't put God in a box because

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen. Eph. 3:20-21

God is able!

Encouraging me to allow the power of God to work through me to do what God has called me to do and that he will provide all that I need to do this. Just excited what God has in store for me in the future and what adventures we will be embarking on in the coming years.

2. There is a difference between religion and a relationship. That we need to have a realtionship with Christ and getting to know Him above being concerned about the details of a religion.

3. God's presence is always with us. He provides for our every need. Ex. 16:30-36

Indiana here we come!

We decided to head to Muncie, IN to visit family. We loaded up the baby and the dog for the eleven hour drive. They both did great! Brad and I rotated driving while the other sat in the back and watched a movie. Here Kailyn and Uncle Joe are enjoying the sounds and smells of her first trip to Pizza King, a local favorite, there is one on every cornor and every small town.

Great-grandma Syphers, mom, and Kailyn on the back porch.

We took a walk along the White river near downtown and had to stop for a picture. On the other side of the river is Muncie Central, where Great-grandma Syphers went to High school graduating 60 years ago this year! Wow! Also the school that was beat in the State finals by the smaller school in the movie Hoosiers.

Here is Kailyn and Great-grandma Syphers, Kailyn is wearing her off to grandma's outfit!

Brad and Alycia at a tea room outside of New Castle, IN. It is literally in the the middle of the corn fields. You would only know it was here by word of mouth. Great food and tea! Kailyn slept through her first visit to a tea room and Brad survived this girly outing! More pictures to come of our trip!

July 4th!

Kailyn celebrating her 1st Fourth!

Grandma and Kailyn getting ready to watch fireworks!

Here are the Bensens in their red, white and blue!

I am trying to catch up on posting all the pictures that I have of Kailyn. Here we are with my mom and dad watching the fireworks at the fairgrounds!

Adventures in babysitting(dogsitting)

I had to throw in a picture of Kailyn. Brad said this is her thug outfit. Her baggy pants and sagging showing the diaper.
Here is our beagle, Addie that we have been watching. Ryleigh has been sweet to her and tolerating her when Addie wants to be right beside her. Ryleigh is jealous when Addie is getting attention from Brad or I. Addie has fallen in love with Ryleigh and wants to be where she is at all times. The most interesting adventures have been walks and our trip to Lynn lake. Two dogs free to roam in a car can be challenging. At least on the way back they were tuckered out. Addie is a puller on walks so when you have two dogs, one pulling, and a stroller with a baby, one adult. When a squirrel passes all bets are off. We have enjoyed having her company and a friend for Ryleigh to play with for a little while. Soon Addie will be going home and we will only have our memories with her.