Hawkins Family

Hawkins Family

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Mr. Football

We are in the thick of football season here.  It started July 29th with practice five nights a week during the summer.  Big commitment for a big family.


Clayton is having a great time.  He's learned life lessons that are much bigger than football.  I'm very thankful for the life lessons that can be learned in sports.  


Goal-setting and continual hard work have been two big themes.  He's learned and applied them well.


(Side note:  it's been hot at nearly every game, even yesterday's and we're into October.  And all the games start about a half-hour before E's nap time.  And the boys have to be there over an hour before game time for warm-ups.  Makes for a long day.  She's been a great little trooper.  Snacks usually keep them happy.)


They're kinda cute, huh?  They had so much fun hugging and playing in this big field before one of the games.


Warm-ups.  Clay plays starting tight end on offense.  He's a sub at defensive end for the first team.


Little cheerleaders need posters made by big brothers. :)


Tall man.  He's the second tallest and third youngest.  (The story of his life.)


More cheerleaders....maybe a goofy one!


They're 5-2 so far.


Saturdays....fun and tiring.  I'll be happy and sad when it's over.  I'd at least like to break out a jacket for one of these games.
  

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

4

Today, we celebrated our darling big little girl.


She is so sweet.  Brings me unbelievable loads of joy.  I LOVE watching her dance all.over.the.house.


I love her face in this photo.  And I love how tiny she looks next to those big balloons.  Her four years have flown by.  Flown by.  I wish I could hit reply.


She was so thrilled when Elena and I showed up at school pick-up with her birthday balloons.  Precious.  Love how balloons can make a little one feel so special.  I'm thinking Jesus must pass out balloons in heaven.


A princess cupcake tower.  Not what I was planning this year, but it seems to have worked!


:)



Clayton is the best big brother ever.  I mean, ever.


She mostly got fall/winter clothes for her birthday, and she modeled every piece without any prompting.  


Hello Kitty raincoat from Grandma Hawkins.


Finally....the prize winner....a Princess scooter!  She's been wanting a scooter so badly the past few weeks.  Steals off with her brothers' every chance she gets.  Now, her own!

Gabriella, how I love you.  I loved celebrating you today.  You are uniquely dear to me and I deeply and fully treasure you.
Happy 4th birthday, sweetheart.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

A New School Year


Walking to the bus stop with Dad.


My 2nd grader and my 5th grader.


Can't believe the school year has begun again!

I'm not sure I'm ready this year.  We had a great summer, busier than I anticipated however.  I loved the last couple weeks that were full of picnics at the football field in the evenings while Clay practiced, later bedtimes, and late mornings.  
We finished off our summer with a day at Water Country USA, a LONG Saturday at the football field for Clay's first game.  We enjoyed Sweet Frog for lunch on Labor Day, and a last swim in the pool.  A pretty great weekend.

OK, fall, ready or not, here we come!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Noonday Blog Train

Here's the full lineup of the Noonday blog train.  Jump on board for inspiring stories of life-change and a different giveaway each day!

Aug 28 Krista Box : www.thegirlwhosaidyes.blogspot.com Aug 29 Alicia Hale : www.raisingalittlehale.blogspot.com Aug 30 Stephanie Nunes : www.nunespartyofthree.blogspot.com Aug 31 Natalie Perry : www.perrysplate.com Sept 1 Laura Walton : www.runningwithapurpose.blogspot.com Sept 2 Amy Armstrong : www.lovingandlivinghisway.blogspot.com Sept 3 Cara Coleman : www.thefrontporchramblings.net Sept 4 Lilly Neubauer : www.pancakesandbeetjuice.com Sept 5 Cynthia Coppinger : www.cynthiacoppinger.blogspot.com Sept 6 Kristine Shafer : www.kristineshafer.com Sept 7 Desiree Thompson : www.hannahjamesblog.com Sept 8 Carmen Jonas : www.primroseandolive.tumblr.com Sept 9 Amanda Cobb : www.thecobbfamilyflys.blogspot.com Sept 10 Liz Sanchez : www.lizsanchez-insidemyhead.blogspot.com Sept 11 Kristan Roland : www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com Sept 12 Tesney Davis : www.oureyesopened.org Sept 13 Aimee Bell : www.raindropsonrosesblog.wordpress.com Sept 14 Annette Miller : http://mrsmiller2012.blogspot.com
Sept 15 Brandi Mendenhall : www.thefairtradefashionistas.wordpress.com Sept 16 Wynne Elder : theelderadventurers.com Sept 17 Jenna Beaugh : www.eatliverun.com Sept 18 McCall Aldridge : www.leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com Sept 19 Emily Hays : www.emilyhays.blogspot.com Sept 20 Lindsay Chambers : www.myvisionsofsugarplums.blogspot.com Sept 21 Elizabeth Bricknell : www.elizabethbricknell.blogspot.com Sept 22 Heather Keehn : www.teamkeehn.blogspot.com Sept 23 Katie Eller : www.cardiganway.com Sept 24 Candace McArthur : www.agirlwithredshoes.wordpress.com Sept 25 Jennifer Arnett : www.thestatewerein.com Sept 26 Emily Tilsen : www.lifeunfabled.blogspot.com Sept 27 Sara Mixon : www.mixonmania.blogspot.com Sept 28 Melonie Grover : www.veryeasilyinspired.com Sept 29 Carrie Glanzer : www.themotherspearls.com Sept 30 Debra Rice : www.turquoiseandlove.blogspot.com

And don't forget, I'm doing a giveaway here too!  Check out my previous post for details!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Fall Launch and a GIVEAWAY!!


I'm so excited that the Noonday Collection fall/winter line is here!!  To celebrate its arrival, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!!
All I want you to do is check out my website (try not to drool) and comment below with your absolute favorite, must-have pieces!
You can win a $50 gift card to purchase whatever you love most!
Could it be this?


You won't believe the amazing, heart-warming feeling you will get when you share that your necklace was made my HIV+ women who now have a sense of dignity or a widow struggling to care for her babies.


Or that families in Guatemala are able to send their children to school because they can finally afford the school fees.


You guys, we are all connected.  Our artisans are not nameless, faceless people.  They share so many of the same dreams that you and I take for granted; a safe home, clean water, nutritious food, and quality education for their children.
You will look fashionable and create a pathway out of poverty for the 1,000 artisans that Noonday currently employs.  Their stories are truly stories of redemption.
Wear their story, share their story.
When you satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your night will become like the noonday.  Isaiah 58:10

*Contest ends September 15, 11:59 pm*

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Thomas's Baptism



August 18, 2013
York River, Yorktown, Virginia

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

On Sharing the Faith

My father-in-law writes devotionals each weekday.  This is today's.  I feel exactly the same way.

“The Call to Christian Discipleship”

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek,” (Romans 1:16, KJV).

This past Sunday evening, my wife and I had one of the most incredible experiences, when we got to watch our youngest grandson be baptized in the York river, in York, Virginia.  We have been blessed to see all of our grandchildren be baptized, after they have made a public profession of their faith, and personally accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. 

Sunday evening was special, because our grandson had attended Vacation Bible School at our church earlier in the summer, and had also made his profession of faith during Sunday school, the following Sunday.  It was great to see the confident smile on his face, and it was an equal blessing to see the huge smile on his big brother’s face as well.  You could tell he was as happy for his little brother as any one person could be. 

However, the biggest blessing came when just before the baptism, our grandson’s Sunday school teacher let everyone know that he and his big brother had shared with their Sunday school classmates what it took to become a Christian, and that one of the other boys in their class accepted Christ that day.  The other boy was also baptized Sunday evening! 

A seven-, and ten-year old boy led another young boy to Christ- -how amazing is our Lord!  When was the last time you shared your faith with a friend who was not a Christian?  Who knows what God has in store for you and the other person!


 “Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” (Matthew 19:14, TNIV).