Grandma and Papaw Newbrough

Ken and Karen came down for the week, after the Marshalls left, to see Samantha.  Even since Feburary, they saw lots of changes in Miss Sami - esp. in the walking category.  What a great visit she had with Grandma and Papaw Newbrough.

Thank you so much for coming!

Oh no - Samantha can now climb up onto this couch herself!

So proud of herself after that climb!

Now, she can romp with the dogs!

"No, Papa - come this way!"

Walking around the house, like it is nothing!

Loving the chair that her mama made her - my inspiration to finish painting it!

Loving on her Peter Cottontail that Grandma and Papaw gave her.

Spring Portraits

Samantha recently got her 15 month old Spring portraits done at JCPennys.  What beautiful pictures!  We didn't get them in time for Easter cards due to being sick - sorry.  But, she is sporting her adorable Easter dress. :)

Check out more of them at:
http://www.smilesbywire.com/

Username:  Dana Newbrough
Access code:  LTPP0567107889JCP

Baptism

When the Marshalls were here, we took them with us to our new church, Northview, for Sunday service.  It was a wonderful service that was incredibly moving. 

At the end of the service, Pastor Steve Poe did an all-call out to the congregation asking for whoever wanted to be baptized to come on down. 

Now, let me regress...two weekends prior there were scheduled baptisms at Northview.  But after the scheduled baptisms, the pastor challenged anyone that had been hesitating or had wanted a new life in Christ to just come on down.  Hundreds of people got up out of their seat, and went down to be baptized.  It was the most moving thing I have ever seen!  I cannot explain the feeling that swept over me - more than just emotion watching people, but God truly telling me to get up out of my seat and GO!  It truly took force to stay in my seat - why I did, I can't explain - except for thinking that since I had been baptized as a child, that perhaps the pastor wasn't referring to me.  However, when I left that Sunday after church, I truly felt like I had disobeyed God.  The feeling stayed with me for days!

When he did an all-call this weekend, I was in tears and again (I know human stubborness) struggled with the decision.  You see I was baptized (immersed) at the age of around 7 - but truly I cannot tell you much about that moment, other than the white gown and going under - I can't tell you about the emotion or making the decision because I truly wanted change.  But, being baptized as an adult I think means even more - I am consciously understanding the decision, the emotion and the hard work that change means in God.  So, when Vicki proclaimed she was going, that was the push God gave me.  Nothing could have stopped me - I was so excited!  To make it even better, Keith, Logan and Haley joined us.  We went behind the stage, changed in the clothes provided and walked out together.  It was one of the most moving and best decisions I have made in my life!

I wish my family and friends could have been there.  But, here are some videos of the moment.  Thank you Vicki for having the courage I didn't and for being the push that made me do something that I have wanted to do for SO long!  To my Crosspoint family, I wish I hadn't of put it off when I was there - it would have meant so much to have you by my side.  I think God knew my hesitation and knew it had be in the moment, not scheduled - for me to just go!

Amazingly, in two weekends at our church - 565 people were baptized.  Now, that is a blessing!

What a great way to start this new chapter of my life, right before I turn 30! :)

Visit with the Marshalls

Vicki, Randy, Logan and Haley visited us for the weekend.  I was initially nervous to have them come that Saturday, because Keith and I had just gotten over a nasty bout of the stomach flu that week.  But, luckily the weekend was wonderful (despite the icky weather that always seems to occur here when people visit) and his family did not get sick. 

We had a nice weekend, filled with a lot of laughter and enjoying Samantha's antics.  And, let me tell you - she was loving all the attention!  Just a couple of weeks before she was walking 3-5 feet solo at most, but with company here she decided she was ready to put on a show!  She walked all over this house - falling quite a bit, and collapsing into the final destination, but walking nonetheless.  Now, she is a great walker and can do laps around the house.  It is scary and amazing to watch her.  I will be posting videos soon. 
Here are some great pictures from out weekend together.  Thanks Marshalls for visiting - we always love our time together! 

One of the rare moments of slowing down enough for a photo.  Thanks for playing with me, Haley! :)

Samantha joined in on the guys' Call of Duty game night.  Should a 15 mth old really be watching this?!

Ironic isn't - wearing her beloved crown and picking her nose on command - perfect.  ;)

Her Mick Jagger impression.  Thanks Randy for the sculpted hairdo.  :)

Giving Mickey a ride in her birthday suite (well almost). :)

Telling Haley all about her day - the child will talk your ear off, granted none of us have any idea what she is saying.  Though, she can clearly say:  Good Girl, Big Girl, Baby, Mama, Daddy, and "oh man, oh man, oh man. "  haha - I think we need to start being careful what we say around her.

And this clearly shows her love affair with Mickey.  :)

Sami's "Monster Face"  If you ask her to make the face, she will contort her face like this.  Hysterical.  If you ask her to make a monster sound, she growls.  I know, I know - she is a ham!  This I do credit the Silverthorne genes for.  :)

Logan giving Sadie attention - poor baby gets left out. 

One of the rare Vicki shots - next time I am taking more pics of you, despite your protests. :)

Hanging with Mal

Keith's niece Mallory and her boyfriend, Christian, came to visit this past weekend over their Spring Break.  It was so nice spending time with them, though a tough reality knowing that we are now the old folks (Mal is now 19 and I have known her 14 years!!).  We were on a 14 month's old schedule, but we had a great time nonetheless.  Needless to say, Samantha kept us all entertained -- what a ham.  And, what a flirt - she was totally obsessed with Christian - poor Keith played second fiddle that weekend.  Though with this being our first time meeting Christian, he scored big points with us because he was wonderful with Sami -- I think they were attached at the hip all weekend.  So, Mal has officially lost her title as "Baby Hog." ;)

Thanks for coming to visit guys - it meant a lot to us!

Her New Boyfriend, Christian. :)

Of course it rained all weekend (I swear it always does when we have visitors) - so Samantha was looking outside and wishing that rain AWAY!!

She moved from the tiarra to the ball cap -- okay, maybe it is more about the attention, than the TYPE of headpiece.  :)

Yes, sad to say that daddy taught her that.  She thinks it is SO funny!

Waving at herself, as she sees her live video on the computer.  Haha

Trying on Mallory's pair of Uggs....one day, Sami!

Samantha holding her Easter bunny - thanks Aunt Tami, Grandma and Papaw for the Easter gifts you sent down. :)

Daddy getting a private conversation with Sami after Christian left - and finally getting her attention back. :)

Pushing her beloved Mickey around the house on her Mickey train -- her idea.  Too cute.  She definitely keeps us laughing.

 

Rolls, Hugs and Toothy Grins

I think I'm in trouble...

Samantha is a ham and constantly keeps me in giggles.  Whether it is her boot-scoot'n to music, her contagious laugh, or her love of chasing and being chased - she keeps you smiling.  Yes, she has a flair for the dramatic (as you will see), a quick temper which fades just as quickly (Keith written all over that one), and a child that is also very mellow -- I know sounds opposite to all I said before.  But, she loves to play by herself and could sit with you for hours reading books (and often prefers to play with books).  However, when she has a ready audience she is ON (yes, you can blame the Silverthorne genes for that one!)  ;)  And, I love it!

So, I am going around my butt to get to my elbow, as my dad would say (yeah, figure out that saying in your own time).  I am telling you all this to preface our hysterical outing yesterday.

Mondays are our grocery store days.  With list and weekly menu in hand, we leave after her morning nap (if God blesses us with one) and go pick up a quick lunch together, then go to Aldi and then Walmart.  This makes for a full day for a 14 month old.  At our first stop - Burger King - I got her a happy meal.  The happy meal came with a princess crown. 

Now let me regress and say that my daughter loves hats, headbands, etc (probably because I have put them on her since birth) and is lately into trying to put them on herself, as well as socks and shoes (obviously she can't, but she tries).

So once seeing this crown, her face literally lit up!  She kept putting it on her head and giggling.  If it fell off, she replaced it.  Honestly, she was in hog's heaven.  So, I assumed this interest would wear off, but no.  If it fell off, she immediately replaced it.  So we proceeded through most of our day out in public with my daughter sporting a crown and a giddy laugh and smile.  And boy did she get attention -- and she loved it! 

She is a total girl and a total princess -- and I truly think this is a sign for trouble.  But, it just recomfirms how much I love little girls!

Of course I didn't have anything to take a photo in Walmart, but here are some picks from that evening at home.  :)