4 years old!

Happy 4th Birthday Joel-er Bear! We love you more than you know! What a fun, imaginative, and silly little boy you are! You continue to be a miracle and blessing to us everyday! Just 5 short years ago Mommy and Daddy were longing for a child just like you and now our cup overflows! Isn't God good?! We love you Pumpkin and hope you have a memorable day with your brothers and a fun party on Saturday!

Love your Mommy & Daddy!

Joel and his new Wall-E robot toy!

Brothers!

countdown to party

Only 4 more days until the long awaited "Incredibles" party! Joel is VERY excited and Sam keeps reminding him that he will have to share his new toys with him! All I can do is laugh (to myself)! I then lovingly remind him that he will have to do the same at his birthday.

I'm hoping to be able to duplicate this image on his birthday cake...it seems the easiest option. Not sure what to do on the cupcakes...maybe the same thing or just yellow icing w/ red sprinkles. The kids don't care; all they want to do is eat the silly things! Of course it matters to me and I wish it didn't. Oh, motherhood pride and vanity....

cupcakes

This last weekend Rob did a wedding for a friend from church who was marrying a sweet woman from the Phillippines. Since her arrival was a bit "up in the air" a wedding wasn't planned until she finally arrived just a few weeks ago. Because of this, a lot of the wedding details could not be done by a professional. So, to help out, a lot of people from church were able to do various things. Our pastor's oldest daughter did the pictures, another friend did the flowers and helped me decorate this cupcake tree seen below, and I decorated cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. It was a huge success and such a joy to be a part of! Several ladies from church actually baked the cupcakes and then I decorated them very simply. Our Grace Church family really pulled together on behalf of Shayne and Vevian and helped make the day memorable for them!

under construction

So....our new home got started on Aug. 22nd and it is well underway now! The first two pictures are just a few days after the construction began, and then the rest are the pics we took on Sunday!
Sunday was an awesome day.... it began with an amazing sermon at church preached by my very own Robbie! I never expected to be so impacted by the death of Jacob in Genesis 50! Take a listen...http://www.gracechurchfrisco.org/our-sermon-audio/2009_08_09_Rob_Tombrella_48kbps.mp3 ! Then after a wonderful afternoon nap, we headed out with the boys to check out the progress on our home! Quite a change had occurred!It was framed and we could really picture all the rooms as we walked through it! It was so fun! We are SOOOOO excited about it!

Our big boys in our "front yard".

Our home takes shape!

Sam and Joel in their room!

...in the family room. I can just imagine the

family nights of fun to be had in that room! :)

MY kitchen! Oh, I can't wait! There will

be a window behind me and an island

right in front of me....so excited!

FL Vacation '09

Well, at long last here are our pictures from our vacation to Sarasota, FL! We stayed in a condo on Lido Beach! It was fabulous! The 20 hour road trip wasn't the best, but memories were made, none the less! Next time we'll fly though.... ;)
Enjoy the pics and video!

Blog Hijack...

Is there life in the middle of summer?
In humid summer nights?
When the ground is cracked and dry?
When the ground is brown from lack?

See Life shines through
Joy lives in her
Something sustaining, giving, providing
Something streaming hope, or Someone

Not in absence of fear
Nor the removal of sadness
The temptations of the mundane
Speak with steady clarity

But in the midst of both
Hope survives the lies
Light shines through darkness
And life overcomes by the hour

There are reasons beyond
More than a feeling
More than good thoughts
From boys, behavior, or bills

For Christ is alive
He lives in her
His presence recalls his promise
And His joy no lie can kill

For He was resurrected for her
And lives to give her life
Life in the midst of winters
Life in the middle of summer

Yours...

Rob