Yes, we are still alive.

Hello? Hellooo?? Is anyone out there?
Several of you have let me know you miss seeing these smiling faces, so here ya go. Get your fill of this cuteness:

Hannah Grace getting ready to get her grub on:

Yeah, we take family photos at Denny's, what's your point exactly??

Snuggling in bed with Mama

Playdates with the besties

Sillies

Sarah's first haircut. She was not impressed. 

It must be spring, Vanilla Moose is open!

River fun

So there you have it, a little bit of Hayes family fun for your Thursday!

Muah!

Mother's daughter.

My precious HG on her first birthday. 

My mama's precious girl on her first birthday. :)

Happy birthday to my darling girl. You light up my days!

First day of preschool!

Today was the first day of preschool for my sweet little people. Yep, even HG gets to go for the first hour - one of the perks of Grandma being your teacher! 

Cheese!

Show me your backpacks!! :)

They had a blast today. When I asked Moses what he did he told me they sang fun songs and ate snacks. They also love that their buddy Shepherd goes, too. And as we headed out the door Moses yelled, "Thanks, Ms. Kat!" Indeed, thank you, Nama!!

Your Daily HG.

My sweet little lady at our family reunion in Cloudcroft. What a charmer she is!

Parade time in tiny Aztec.

So have any of you been to Aztec? I hear it's quite the tourist attraction. We have our very own McDonald's and a Dollar General! Watch out world! ;) When I heard about the little parade on main street (this was back in June!) I couldn't wait to go. My sweet husband humored me and off we went with our sweet HG (the "big" kids were with Grandma that day). 

Here is Gracie, sharing in my excitement...

I mean really, how cute is this?!

Can you see the joy shining in my face?

"Miah, Miah! Take more pictures!" she would yell.

Oh heavens. How adorable is THIS?!

This picture makes me laugh!

I'm glad Mo wasn't here at this moment.. pretty sure he would have been yelling something about a "chollo wagon". I kid you not. 

This was so, so silly.

What a fun, fun morning! Oh! And did you know the "floats" throw candy?! I'm bringing a bag next year! :)

She's mobile!

We came home from swimming, got out the (blasted!) bucket o' beans and then...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

A South African Story.

I don't remember the city I was in, the name of the hospital, or even what the hospital looked like from the outside. Here is what I do remember. Babies laying in their beds and when I went to pick one of them up they were soaked in their own urine. No one to tend them, no mama's to fuss over them. I went to the nurse and got new sheets and clothes and warm water and bathed them and cleaned them. I snuggled and read to them. My heart was broken, but then -but then - we went into the next room. These little children laying on cots. A breeze blew in the windows and their frail little selves barley stirred. When I sat down next to one of the little girls she moaned. Blood was dripping from her IV's. She had been abused. She had AIDS. She was dying alone. There I sat wondering what on earth I could do here. Just sitting next to her caused her pain. She didn't want to be touched. So I just sat, and cried and prayed. 

These stores - these little lives - they touched my heart in a way I can't describe. They changed me. When I change my babies sheets I remember the blood stained sheets of the little girl in South Africa and think of how I can help my babies to see the worlds outside their windows more clearly. I think it's done bit by bit and day by day in both big ways and small.. but it begins with their mama remembering.  

I read this post today and one thing she said really stuck with me: We’re either responding with indifference or with intercession, either with apathy or aid.

I'm praying I remember what I have seen, that I am aware of what is going on the world today, and that I am willing to be used in big and small ways to make a difference. Pray? Yes. Give? Yes. Encourage others to do the same? Absolutely.