1 Year Photo Session

I have known Kellie since we were young and it still amazes me to think any of us are grown up enough to have kids! Well, we do and what better person to capture Jonathan's 1 year pictures than the one and only Kellie Day!! She is an awesome photographer that has taken some amazing pictures of our family over the past couple of years!! We love her and Clint (her husband) dearly and were honored to have her capture Jonathan at his 1 year milestone! The photos speak for themselves, Jonathan is ADORABLE and Kellie did a phenomenal job as usual!!! Thanks Kellie!

www.kelliedayphotography.com

Jonathan Michael Pike II turns 1!!!!!

This year we've learned more in our life

than we ever have before

how can we look into your eyes

and not simply just purely adore.

You taught us how to care for someone

more than we do for ourselves

to fear the little things in life

and cherish every moment that we share.

We've seen you struggle to roll over

and finally get it right

We've learned how to travel with a heavy stroller

and how to stay up late at night.

We've watched you crawl all over the place

we've heard you say mama and dada

we've cleaned sticky food off of your face

and wiped your tears when you get sad.

Every day we laugh and play

we sing along to Veggie Tale songs

everyday you brighten up our way

and teach us that with you our life is never wrong .

We cant wait to see you grow and learn

and do new things every day

We promise you our little boy

that we will be there to guide your way.

Just a year ago you were in mommys tummy

and today you are a toddler

We love you unconditionally

and everyday it gets much stronger.

Happy first birthday our precious son

We love you...you're our #1!!

Jonathan's very own cake!

Awesome "Truck" cake!

Presents!!!

Lego truck from Mommy & Daddy

Balloons!!!

"Happy Birthday to you!!!"

"What is this sticky stuff mom?!?!"

He definitely did not like the cake on him!!!

Awesome Mac Truck from Mimi & Opa!!!

Vacation & 11 months old

After a long but wonderful trip to Nashville for IMMERSE we were ready for some R&R at our houses in NC!! What better time to reflect on my week in music city than rocking on the front porch looking out across the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!!! Totally different from August in Florida that's for sure!! We spent 2 weeks doing some routine maintenance on the houses as well as enjoying the local annual crafts fair that comes to town!! We had such a great time and as usual did not want to return home!!

On a side note...Jonathan is growing by leaps and bounds and is a whopping 11 months old!! I cannot believe in less than a month he will be a year old! As a mother no one can prepare you for that 1 year birthday! It has come so quickly!! I am amazed at what Jonathan teaches me everyday! He is such a joy!! I have a feeling that he will be walking by his 1st birthday! He finally stood alone by himself! It is cute to watch him stand and then realize that he is doing it and then falls down!! He'll be running before I know it!! I know people think I'm crazy but I cannot wait for the day I can chase him around the house!! Keeps me young!! =)

When You Least Expect It

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at when I attended "The Gospel Post Convention and Fan Awards" in July because this was my first year participating. But, it was a great afternoon and evening of meeting new people and making new friends. Congratulations to all the winners in each category. Job well done! After being a member of the Gospel Post for just over a year I was finally able to put the monthly pictures and articles together with a real face. I enjoyed hearing each group minister in song as well as being able to sing my praises to Him for all He does for me “when I least expect it”!

Now as if that event wasn’t spectacular enough it just gets better! Next stop was

Nashville, TN to attend IMMERSE 2009, Gospel Music Association’s music training experience and competition. And what an experience it was!! I had an awesome week learning better how to engage people across generations to discover the promises and purposes of the Bible through music. It was a wonderful time also to learn better how to partner with other Christian churches and ministries to raise the level of music engagement across the whole church; and to promote, expose and celebrate the gospel through music. I also met some important artists, songwriters and producers. There are some God-sized doors opening for me and my future direction. Exciting news will continue in the months ahead just “when you least expect it”!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

*God may have chosen to make you my mother...but I chose to make you my friend!*
By the time the Lord made mothers, he was into his Sixth day of working overtime. An Angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

The Lord answered and said, "Have you seen the special sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have 200 movable parts, all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart, and have six pairs of hands."

The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No Way!" said the Angel.

The Lord replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!"

"And that's just on the standard model?" The Angel asked.

The Lord nodded in agreement. "Yes, one pair of eyes is to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head is to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair is here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word."

The Angel tried to stop the Lord. "This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish. "

But I can't!" The Lord protested, "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can feed a family of six on a pound of rice and can get a two year old to stand in the shower."

The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, Lord".

"She is soft", Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?" asked the Angel.

The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak." The Lord objected. "That's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the Angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."

The Angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything, for MOTHERS are truly amazing."

They have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry hardships, and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up for injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without new shoes so their children can have them. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their loved ones get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage. They are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Mothers come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a mother is what makes the world spin! They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Mothers have a lot to say and a lot to give.


M-essenger, relaying God's word
O-utpouring of genuine love
T-rusts in God
H-eart set on things above
E-arthly saint
R-escuer of the wayward


Happy Birthday Mom!! You are so much more than a mother to me and I thank God every day that He has placed you in my life!! I don't know what I'd do or where I'd be without you!! I love you and consider it an honor to be your daughter!!

Why Do We Sing?

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to join with a multitude of other singers & musicians at a convention in Bell, FL! We had a GREAT time of fellowship and worshipping together our Lord and Savior!! But at the same time it brought up some questions that led to my next article...

Why do we sing? That's the question we've all asked ourselves at one time or another. Is it because our heart's desire is to lead as many people as we can to Christ so that they may accept our gracious Father and live eternally in Heaven with Him? Or, is it to add another "number" to our tally sheet of decisions made through our ministry?

Do we sing because we feel God has blessed us with a gift and we want to do service for Him out of gratitude for that gift? Or, are we performing with our music abilities to bring us praise and accolades from the world?

Can we truly say we sing because we love and care about unsaved people enough to practice for hours and prayerfully ask God to lead us to the songs He chooses that will minister best to lost souls? Or, are we elevating ourselves so that people will admire us?

Are we sacrificing our time, talents and money to be the best witness for His kingdom? Or are we expecting in return paybacks in favors, friends and monetary gain?

Is music the symphony our soul hears as we meditate and worship the Savior, Master, Rose of Sharon, Lily of the Valley, the Cornerstone, the Alpha and Omega, and the Messiah? Or do we perform because we like to hear ourselves sing?

As each of us prepares our hearts and minds for the great time of worship, witnessing and testifying, may God be exalted as we proclaim His glory, goodness and graciousness to our Heavenly Father. I am humbled at the opportunity to lift my praises through song. "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs" (Psalm 100: 1-2)