Life Together

Today marks another milestone in our lives...this past year we have witnessed our sweet youngest grands turn 1, our oldest turned 13, twins are offically double digits, cams is 9 and we are right on top of Landon's next birthday and Laney...well she is our Laney girl! To watch each one of them continue to grow with their very individual personalities is so fun!!! I don't know if every grandparent feels this way but I understand better now than when I was the mom with the small ones...just how fast the years go...and I'm enjoying all the milestones with each one of them...

While I'm so thankful for each one of not only the grands but our kids and our in loves that God has brought into our family...this post is about 37 years...37 years of growing up...37 years of fears...failures...successes! 37 years of getting to know one another better...37 years of laughter and tears...of growing in Jesus together...of raising a family we are so very thankful for and proud of...37 years of getting older...of aches and pains...of becoming grandparents together...of serving the Lord together...of traveling to our second home (India) together...of learning to communicate better together...of learning the importance of praying together...37 years of life...37 years of losses and leaning on one another...37 years of marriage...

I cannot say that our marriage is perfect...truth be told we still have a lot to learn still...probably...or maybe I should say I hope we are and still willing to have a teachable spirit...

But today...we say thank you Jesus we have made it this far...I have been blessed by way more than I could have ever wished for or certainly deserved...

I love you Scott...happy anniversary...here's to at least 37 more years!

~Beth

Cassie Diane...

This beautiful girl is my first born! She is the first one I had to learn with or practice on...I did a not so good of a job most of her life...Jesus helped us...and I got better...

She was always expected...to be grown up...to be the responsible one...to do the right thing...and for the most part she did...but during that time she lost a bit of her childhood a long the way...something I, as her mom, took from her...something I wish I could give back to her...but again...I can't...and Jesus provided us with a first hand...witnessed with our own eyes...merciful...miracle!!!!

That history, however, formed who she is...and bondage's in her own life she would in time learn to break free from...she learned, due to the pressure I applied...to attempt to be everything to everyone...to be what and who people expected her to be...and that is something we cannot do or be...we cannot be other's source of joy...not even our own spouses...she also learned from her mom...to stew and fret...especially if someone is not happy with her...

However, God gave her grace, salvation...Jesse Ball...who helps to balance her...to teach her it's okay to laugh...life needs the laughter too!!! God also gave her 4 precious kiddos...in turn she has learned somethings that are very important earlier that her momma did...she has learned over the years...to embrace Jesse's ability to laugh even when life is hard...she has learned to cherished those hard...looooonnnng early years with her children...she has learned to give them individual time once in a while...she has learned to understand she must please God...then her husband..you know...seek ye first the kingdom of God...and His righteousness...and all these things will be added unto you...

This last year or so, she has gone back to school for her masters...and it's been hard on her...I've heard her say more than once she doesn't think she is doing good in any area...

Well my girl...you are doing amazing!!!! You've managed to keep up your school work...your job...you family...introduced to jr high sports and activities...loved Jess well...and those kiddos...

So, your special day is here...know just how truly loved you are...know that dad and I are always your biggest fans...that Jesse still looks at you like he did in your prom dress...that was the instant I knew...he was crazy about you!!!...your kiddos know they are blessed to call you mom...heck you gave them a dog this year!!!!

Start all your days in prayer...end your day laying your head down on your pillow knowing you lived your life to the very best of your ability for HIM that day...and then you will know...no matter what...it was a good day...

I love you so very much...thank you for being you...for growing into my friend...for loving Jesus and Jess...for giving us those crazy Ball kids...

Happy birthday sweet girl...
love~mom

Katherine Elizabeth

Katie,

Wow, the difference a year can make...you've been an amazing momma this past year which doesn't surprise me at all!!!! You are within days of moving into your house...so very excited for you...and with in weeks of having a sweet baby boy!!!

You amaze me...I ran across that report Heather did her freshman year of college called my 6th grade hero. It brought back such sweet memories of a little one who, it seems, has always just trust the Lord...the Love, Grace, Forgiveness...the child like faith simple grounded you in Him.

Dad and I pray that you and Thomas will pass that same child like faith on to Journie and Barrett...and any future little McKibbens that would join us. 

Your students love you...I can hear it just for the simple fact that they call you MISS...I can see it in the way your passion is for their hearts as much as it is for their minds...in the way you believe in them and see potential even when they don't or other don't...just like "6th grade hero" God continues to use you in the halls of McDonald County!

We love you so much...I hope and think you know that...so for dad's punk-punk-a-roo...have a blessed, full of love, and fun day!!!!

Love you,

momma

thank ya, thank ya very much!

Begin to Breathe

The other day one of my sweet friends was sharing with me what God was beginning to do afresh in her life. She shared with me her testimony and the miracle of her salvation...you know every salvation is a miracle...as I listen to her...and could see the Spirit of God fresh on her face...and her heart...as she shared about the moment of her salvation all I could think of were the words of this song...

Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me

This is what happened the 3rd day in the grave to our Savior! But upon our salvation...our dead lifeless eternal spirit begins to breathe!!!

When God works in our lives and we share that joy and that passion with other...it is contagious!!! We could spend hours upon hours attempting to teach people this passion but passion cannot be taught!!! It is caught...

Lord I love you...and thank you for friends who share their passion with me!!!!

Scott

I can't wait to see you in a few more hours...it has been a long week without you here! Another birthday...another year of learning what marriage looks like...(wonder if we will ever arrive and can stop learning...probably not!!!)...Wanted to do something extra special for you this year...because you deserve it!...and these are the reasons why...

You teach me what love looks like daily

you have a joy for the Lord like I've never known

You love our kids so well

You encourage others all the time

you are an amazing poppy

you are an amazing son

your are an awesome uncle

you work so very hard

you love to play too!

you are my best friend

you are a man of honor

you are man of intergity

...and you are a man who is loved!!!

Happy birthday baby...I love you so much!!!~Beth

Happy birthday Michael!

This has been an amazing year...you've been a dad for an entire year now...I remember watching you as a little boy/young man...and I knew then what a great husband and father you'd be! You've proven me right about the husband thing! I see the way Beks looks at you and I know you love her well...

Now, Charli Grace is here and oh my word the daddy you've  become...I know you love her fiercely...you will protect her with your very life...you will teach her about Jesus...and I've seen you eat a few words...(like we all do when we become parents)...but I've also watched you work very hard to earn the love of another little lady...

Miss Rory came to you hurt, scared and needing some healthy loving...she was so afraid of you at first...and the pain I saw in your eyes hurt my heart...but I've watched you work slow and steady...with consistency you won the heart over of another little lady...she adores you as much as Charli does and you have proven me right once again...you are an amazing dad! I happen to think you had a pretty awesome example to follow!

I also want to say an extra thanks for  being there for me this week...for the hard work...but even the small things like pulling the hose to the garden so I wouldn't have to!

I hope you day is blessed full of giggles and laughs with your ladies! I love you more than you will ever know!

Mom

Happy birthday Sis!!!

oh my goodness a story about you came to mind this morning...back in the day when you could legally stand up beside me in the pickup while I was driving...it was just you and me for some reason and we pulled into the driveway and the stupid dog had drug clothes off the clothesline AGAIN...and I (pre Jesus days) said a choice word...and you...who NEVER talked repeated it...I said sorry mama should say that word...don't say that...to which you said...me just wanted to say ****...don't say that word...but me just wanted to say ****...ugh don't say that word again...but me just wanted to say ****...lesson learned to a mama!!!!

I'm so thankful for you in my life and in our family...each one of us bring something very important and a different dynamic to make us...us...know you are loved and appreciated so much...I pray your day is good, blessed...amazing!!!!

love,

mom