MANY a FUN DAY in MAY

SO MUCH FUN GOING ON IN MAY!!

I can hardly keep up with everything...I have always referred to May as the "2nd December" - busy, busy, busy! But, all SUPER FUN events!!

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WARNING: This blog entry is on the extremely photo intensive side! It's so dang hard to narrow 23 days down to just a few pics!!

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The kiddo's built a GIGANTIC FORT out of pillows & blankets to sleep in over the Holiday Weekend. Amazingly, they went to sleep at a decent hour!A Rockin' Block Party in our good friends' Cul de Sac...Band and all! It was such a BLAST!!

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Abby going to town on the hula hoop!

The DUDES
* ELVIS made an appearance!!

The girls WENT WILD for the E-Man!

And for this man! a.k.a. "The Ladies Man"

My Girly Girls

Adorning one of their favorite Matilda Jane get ups.
A Sigma Chi Get Together at a good friend's house...it was SO MUCH fun!!

(So much better than those stinky fraternity house parties!)

Aren't they getting so grown up & mature?!

The little kids dined in the foyer at a picnic table due to Mother Nature raining on our parade.

Miss Abby at her Tumbling Class...and yes, she is vertically challenged like her Momma!

Working on her back handspring TA DA!

The Fam on their way to Abby's 1st Piano Recital

How Pretty is this Clubhouse?!

Abby was first up and did an AMAZING job!!

Her smile melts my heart. I was SO PROUD of her.

The littlens and I have been making frequent stops at various parks around town due to all this gorgeous weather we've been having. This day Hunter Park was our destination.

Ella Bella...just a swingin'!

Pure Happiness

This was one of the most comical, yet precious things to watch. Owen (2 1/2 yrs) made friends with Victor (4 yrs). They instantly took to each other. They saw a squirrel and tried to chase it down. That led to a game of chase between the two. They ran....

And ran...........

And ran............

And ran...........

And ran...........

And FINALLY took a break to stop and pet a nearby dog.

My little princess decided to try out some climbing.

She was so proud of herself...she's usually not the daring type.

Owen getting ready for his last day of pre-school ~ Water Play Day. He couldn't wait to give his teachers their pitchers of hot pink roses.

Miss Michelle & Miss Kathy ~ We LOVE U!!

Ella's Water Play Day

Good Friends

Drying off and enjoying popsicles

This girl sure does love to swing!

And pose. :)

The O-Man trying to mimic Ella's pose.

Silly Goose!

The morning of Mother's Day...bringing Mommy breakfast in bed!

Opening all my beautiful homemade cards and gifts.

Listening to Mom read the two page interview Daddy did with all four kids...then typed up all their answers for me to have and enjoy forever. It was PRICELESS.

(Favorite memory with Mom, how are you most like Mom, favorite thing to do with Mom, what you most admire about Mom, something you'd like to do with Mom, funniest memory with Mom, if you could buy Mom anything, what would it be?)

My dream of being a Mother of Four has come true. I even always wanted two boys and two girls...I still can't believe God blessed me with this family. How could one be so lucky??

More homeade gifts...

Off to church...Mommy's favorite outing of the week!

My little Knight in Shining Armor...one of my great garage sale finds!

My dear friend Brent's "Blingy Surprise Soiree"

So Grateful for this Girl!

She's one of those rare finds...the kind you tuck away in your treasure chest and cherish forever.

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY B!!*

*~Christina's Masterpiece~*

Some of Brent's Biggest Fans

Spring Sing & Mother's Day Tea

I will so desperately miss having these two home together...we have had such a fantastic year together. I CANNOT believe my baby girl will be in Kindergarten next year! It just can't be...

South Tulsa Baptist ELP Spring Sing

What happened when I asked Ella to pose for a photo with her good friend Myah

Oh boy...looks like they're going down!

Yep...they're down!

It doesn't get much sillier than these two Peas in a Pod!

THE Mother's Day Tea...a day I look forward to with each of my children. They sing to us, serve us yummy treats, give us homemade crafts, and get their picture taken with us. I was so thankful that this wasn't my last one...the waterworks would have started if it would have been.

(Well, yes...it's my last one with Miss Ella, but I held on to my emotions knowing I still had the O-Man's 3 & 4 yr old Teas to go!)

I adore you my Ella Bella...I am so proud of you and all that you have learned this year. I love that you are my "kissing bandit"...you are the only one of the four that consistently chooses me (over Daddy). You melt my heart.

The Girls of Pre-K ~ sure do hope we keep in touch!

My big 10 yr old B'day Boy got what he has been wanting for months...an ABERCROMBIE zip up hooded jacket. I kid you not, he wore it for a week straight! (I can't believe "labels" are already making a way into his life. Although, I do remember on my 10th b'day getting my 1st pair of GUESS overalls and I think I wore them every day for a week too! LOL!!)

One Happy Boy

Grandad (Greg's Dad) presenting Will with the framed picture of Tiger Woods that he has been longing for for months...he read the sweetest message to Will that was written on the back. It was a moment I know will stay with Will forever. The picture hangs proudly.

World's Greatest Grandma with the B'day Boy

Uh Oh...the party is officially over and it's time for NACHO (libre) to make an appearance! The Greggor pulls out his beloved mask only for very special occasions such as this. :)

We still have another Wild Week of May to go...Memorial Day get together at Nana & Grandad's, my Brother's B'day Dinner at Oma's, the 1st night of the Esther Study, Abby's Class Ice Cream Social, Will's 4th Grade Graduation Party, a Wedding, and Birthday Parties. Hold on tight...YEEEEE HA!

A Few "Joyce-isms"

A Few Treasures I gathered at the Joyce Meyer Conference this Weekend:

*Feed on God's Word like you're a starving person (Ps 119:17)

*Know how to separate your "who" from your "do

*You want to know that because of you, someone else's life is better

*Nothing changes for God if I'm obedient, but everything changes for me

*Learn to seek God's Face and not His Hand - GOOD ONE, huh?!

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God"

*Be a God Pleaser, not a man pleaser

*God's Grace is not an excuse to live a sloppy life, it's a reason not to

*When you invite the Holy Spirit to fill every room in your "house", that means YOU have to

move out!

*It's easier to DO something than to BE something...we are to BE living testimonies

*As a Christian, the one thing we don't want to do is NOTHING

*God accepts us as where we are, but doesn't want us to stay there

*Our #1 Goal in life should be: TO LOVE PEOPLE

*We need to strive to put a smile on God's face :)

"God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face and make you prosper."

Numbers 6:25

JOYCE MEYER is comin' to T-TOWN!

JOYCE MEYER TULSA CONFERENCE



If you have never heard my Joyce speak, you simply MUST make one of the below conferences times! I call her my "daily vitamin". She is so anointed. God uses her to disciple millions and millions of people. She has a worldwide ministry that gives back in HUGE ways.

Joyce is on t.v. several times daily if you want to see her in your own home...but, I do HIGHLY encourage you to try to make at least part of the Tulsa Conference. Use it as an excuse to go eat at some fun Brookside or Downtown restaurant! :)

I will definitely be attending the Friday night session if anyone wants to meet up. Hoping to make the other sessions as well!

Did I mention that admission is FREE?!!

SCHEDULE: Thursday, May 14th 7:00 pm
Friday, May 15th 10:00 am & 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 16th 10:00 am

http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/Conferences/default.htm

Schedule is subject to change. Each session will include a powerful message from Joyce, and Delirious? will be leading worship. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Doors will open two hours prior to each session, so be sure to arrive early so you can grab a seat and have time to check out the resource tables. (FYI: I was told each session will last 2.5-3 hrs)

A Full Heart this Mother's Day

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

~Thornton Wilder

A Decade of WILL Power

Oh how I wish I had a scanner so I could add a picture of my oldest baby as a baby...he was such a precious boy. (Maybe I will ask my neighbor if I can use hers?)

But, if not, we'll start with the earliest digital pics I could find.

Here's Mr. Will at 3 1/2 with his little sis Abby...Will has always been full of life! In fact, he kept me on my toes every second of every day until he turned...oh, about six! (Seriously)

Will used to LOVE to play dress up...usually in interesting ways.

Here's one of those "interesting" ways. :)


Will's 3rd Birthday Party in the backyard of our first home...Circus Theme.


Dang! I cannot remember the name of that clown's name...what was it??

Will celebrating at his pre-school.

Will's 4th birthday...again, at our old house. This time, CINCO de MAYO themed! Ole!!

(Check out Greg in his Tommy Bahama shirt...LOL! What a stud!!)

Rescue Heroes was the hit that year.

Birthday #5 was all about BATMAN...I have awesome pics from the party...but, they were all 35mm so no can show. :(

Had to throw this is...Will's 1st year of T-Ball. Does it get much cuter?!

And onto INCREDIBLES...that's what b'day #6 was all about.

I had a custom Incredibles Cape made for the b'day boy...he loved it!

Will's 7th b'day...his love for golf starts to peak. He gets his first set of "real" clubs.

Birthday #7 was at Playhouse for Kids...Will had no front teeth that year. :)

Did I mention my son does not like b'day cake? Can you believe that?! Nope, he almost always requests donuts...and once, cookie cake.

Oh, how could we ever forget b'day #8?! We had l2 or so boys come over for some "Sports Play" in the backyard...oh boy...won't be doing that one again. WHEW! The testosterone was more than this Momma could take!!

Ahhh...b'day #9. Nice and calm. Putt putt golf.

Will received his first electric guitar...oh how I love to hear him play.

Ruleys love dessert...we just do.

And at last, Birthday #10. All he wanted was his two best friends and ice skating.

I cannot believe ten years ago today I went into labor 3 weeks early with my first child. It was the most incredible experience of my whole life. Meeting him for the 1st time. Looking into his eyes. Our lives were forever changed.

William Gregory Ruley ~ *HAPPY BIRTHDAY.* We love you.
We are so proud of the Godly young man you are becoming. We pray over you the discipline of Daniel, the courage of Joshua, the obedience of Noah, the wisdom of Solomon, the perserverance of Paul, and most importantly, the LOVE of CHRIST.

IS IT TOUGH BEING A WOMAN?

(I am pasting an e-mail that was sent out tonight in regards to an incredible Bible Study that my church, Asbury UMC, is offering this summer)

Do you think it’s hard to be a Woman in Today’s World?

Have you ever felt judged? Have you ever felt like you’ll never get it all together? Have you ever had a bad hair day?? :) Then, we have the perfect study for you!

I am thrilled to announce that Asbury is going to be offering the latest (& greatest) Beth Moore Study ~ Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman. I had the wonderful opportunity to take this study the past few weeks, and it absolutely ignited my faith! It is the combination of a great novel interwoven with God’s faithfulness. It reveals history touched by God’s providence. It inevitably moves the heart of every woman who takes it.

Asbury’s Esther Study will be meeting every Wednesday night, May 27th – August 5th, except for June 17th – the week of Asbury’s VBS. We will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and go until 8:30 p.m. CHILDCARE is provided and is free (BIG woo hoo!).

Here is the link to view the information on Asbury’s Website: http://www.asburytulsa.org/get-involved/road-map.html#esther

As well as Lifeway’s website: http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=1415852898 - be sure to watch the PROMO video!

If you received this e-mail, please prayerfully consider joining us this summer. Also, please take the time to invite someone to join you…a neighbor, a co-worker, a family member, etc. There is a statistic that states that 80% of the people who do not attend church don’t because they have never been invited. Let’s lower that percentage!

As far as the format for this Summer goes, we will be splitting into groups of around 8-12 like we did last summer. This allows for better discussion and lends to a more comfortable group time. We have many returning Small Group Leaders as well as a few new ones…you will ADORE them all!

If you have any Questions, Concerns or Suggestions, please e-mail me at kruley@cox.net. We are always looking for ways to improve our Women’s Ministry. We want to be a BLESSING! Also, if you want to volunteer to help out in any way, please let me know. We are looking for help with registration the 1st night, snack coordination, membership retention, etc.

For those who are going to join us this summer, *PLEASE be sure to REGISTER* by calling the Registration Hotline at #392-1191 by Wednesday, May 20th. This helps us prepare for how big of a room we need, how many books to order, how many childcare workers will be needed, etc. Very, very important!

Grateful for God’s Love for Women, Katie <><