When the Thunder Rolled

Yes, the Lightning strikes.

When the storm came through last week, lightning struck one of our beautiful oak trees :( just 100ft from our house.

The kids and I were at home and I was on the phone with a friend at the time. I remember saying lightning just hit and my ear was ringing a little...I told the boys to turn off and unplug the television.

I had no idea it hit our back yard...until today. Jared ran in the house saying..."Mom, Caden and I found the tree the lightning hit last week!"

So I walked outside to see. Wow. It was really sad, because we love our trees. I have only seen this type of thing on television, never like this before. Wow.


A mighty oak tree, majestic and glorious— that's how I once described you. But it will only take a clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning to leave you a shattered wreck.

Jeremiah 11:15

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Today my sweet husband celebrated his 36th Birthday!

The kids fixed him a chocolate cake...

and make homemade cards for him!

They just can't find the perfect one in the store, so they prefer making them themselves. After a weekend at Nana and Papaw's house they stayed up late last night working on the cards after Daddy thought they had gone to bed;)

We had a wonderful weekend together. Time with just my husband, what a blessing. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for wathcing the kids for us.

I love you babe. Happy Birthday!!

"You are my son, And today is your birthday."

Psalm 2:7

Good from A to Z

Every summer we like for the boys to read, and review some of their other subjects. Jared enjoys reading almost as much as he enjoys video games.;) Mathematics, he does not enjoy as much, and his focus of his summer studies. Caden is just the opposite, he loves Math and doesn't enjoy reading. So reading and learning cursive writing is his summer study. We started last Monday, I asked Caden to pick any book he would like to read. He chose, DIARY of a Wimpy Kid "DOG DAYS" a book he got for Christmas from his Nana & Papaw. I remember him saying then, he wouldn't enjoy reading it because its so long, so I was surprised this was the book that he chose. As he was reading I could tell he was enjoying the story, just by the way he formed his words, not to mention the little giggles here and there. ;) This is his first book he has truly enjoyed reading. He made a book mark to mark his page, and is excited when I tell him it's time to read. Wow. We are so excited for him! He has always thought reading was just not any fun and would only read when me or his Dad make him. He doesn't have to love to read, but we have hoped and prayed reading would be something he learns to enjoy one day.

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation. Isaiah 33:6

Fathers Day 2010

We spent the evening visiting with my parents.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad!

Papaw, Grace, Daddy, and Jared getting ready to go for a ride. Yes, Jared is behind the wheel for his first time!

So you guys better hold on!

Caden not far behind on the motorcycle.

Also this weekend Daddy and Caden built a fort together. A little later...the other two joined in. ;)

My Daddy is #1!!!

Happy Fathers Day, Jeff! I am so glad I chose you to be the father of my children. Love you Hunny.

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family. Esther 9:28

A Little Trip

With all the kids in the car, we are ready to go!

Just kidding...this is about an hour 1/2 into the trip. Don't get me wrong though they would love to put in a movie before leaving our drive way. ;)

Family picture

The boys riding the Judge Roy Scream.

Caden and Grace

Grace on her first ride at Six Flags. Yes, our child who seems to not be afraid of anything these days, was actually a little nervous!?

Daddy telling Grace "Don't worry, you'll be okay." She didn't care for this ride at all...before the ride ended she had her arms wrapped tightly around the bar.

The boys riding Aqua Man!

The rest of us were hot and also ready to get wet, so here we are in line waiting to ride one of my favorites...The Roaring Rapids!

Grace waiting with her Daddy, while the boys and I rode, Runaway Mountain. If Grace was too little to ride Jeff and I would trade out riding with the boys or we would just let them ride together. They enjoyed riding together, this made them feel more grown up. We are more than happy to watch.... I have learned on this trip, I'm getting too old for the coasters. :(

Just a cute picture of the kids before entering the "Cave" on Yo Samity Sam.

More Six Flags fun!

Watching the parade at the end of the day.

Some fun pictures at the Hotel the two days we were there:

Caden's Cannon Ball.

Jared's Backstroke.

Grace playing.

The Hotel had a water park...

that the kids loved!

At this point all three kiddos had just about enough of the water. ;)

Helping her Daddy bring up the cart so that we can load our luggage before heading home. We had such a good time on our mini vacation! Grace did GREAT and she enjoyed her first visit in a hotel. We are so thankful she is doing a lot better. God teaches me more through Grace than I could ever teach her.

We have the sweetest neighbors! They invited us for supper the night we got back, this made our evening so much more enjoyable not having to cook and getting to visit with neighbors we can truly call friends!

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.

Ephesians 4:4

Stage

Not a fun one.

This has been our little girl this week. I would say today was a lot better. Thank you thank you Jesus.

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad! Love you.

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:32

Little Monkey

Caden said, "Mom come see! Grace is climbing over the gate." I said, "Really over both gates?" "YES! You have got to come see!" So I grabbed my camera to show her Daddy when he got home from work today. And sure enough...

Busted!

We tried putting up both gates this weekend to see if this would keep her in her room during "rest time." She started climbing over one gate when the boys got out of school last week. She knows they are in their room reading or watching a movie quietly and she refuses to miss out.

Little Monkey is what Jared called her when she completed her climb. He said, (in amazement) "You are just like a little monkey aren't you?"
 

As the brand name on one of the gates suggest,

"Safety 1st."

So back to the drawing board. ;)

 

Let us be bold, then, and say," The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

Verse for her Daddy & I to remember) ...we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keep us alert for whatever God will do next. Romans 5:3

First Week of Summer

We have been busy and on the go, as if we were still in school. No sleepin in! Put summer vacation on hold for one more week. Get up and go! It's VBS week!!

I didn't originally sign up to work. I offered my help after the first day, noticing we had between 250- 280 kids!...Wow! This was wonderful, but they desperately needed some extra help. Jared told me on our way home he wasn't sure if he wanted to return, because of another child's language and fights within his group. At first I was a little upset, and was okay with him not returning. I felt the Lord say to me, "So your giving up on me, just like that huh." Just then I knew He was not pleased. I told Jared, I would be helping tomorrow and most of the week, and he was relieved. His group, only having teenagers for leaders, and several others had reported problems with this group. My job was to keep an eye on them... in case of another incident. We didn't want Jared to feel like "his mommy was following him around," so I only made myself visible when discipline was needed.

The lord blessed me with a one on one conversation with the "disruptive child" after he said he didn't have a "God sighting" story to share with the group. I explained to him what a "God sighting" was. He said, "Oh I didn't know that." So when I fell and hurt my arm God stopped the pain? Because, it didn't hurt at all the next day." I said, "HE sure did!" Later, he was so excited to share his story with the rest of the group. I was so excited for him! Then I felt guilty for getting upset and okay with not returning to finish the week after this child caused my child not to want to return. This week may have been his only opportunity to learn about God. This may be all he knows. Thursday, while I was waiting for Jared and Caden to be dismissed, I saw the amount of children going up front to be saved, or just to pray. This brought tears to my eyes. What a blessing to see. Jared had a good time he was a little upset when we left 10 minutes early on Wed. do to bad weather. On Friday after VBS he spent the day with A, B & C. Caden also had a blast this week!..I think he enjoyed it a little too much, because by Friday he was not feeling well, just very tired. So we kept him home and enjoyed movies together! Looking forward to next week our summer vacation can officially begin! Yay!

"Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say."Exodus 4:12

Learning Something New

The other day while Jared was at swim class a friend and I were talking, I told her I didn't know how to French Braid, but I would love to learn. She was kind enough to give me a quick lesson on Grace and her daughters hair. She said a good way to practice is to braid around the front and the side instead of down the back of her head that way you don't have to worry about keeping the braid straight.. Excellent idea!

So yesterday I thought I would give it a try.

Not too good. I'll keep practicing ;)

Grace sat still while watching TV. She seemed pretty pleased with her first braid.

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need, My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

15 Years Ago

Wow. Where has the time gone? I can't believe it's been fifteen years ago today, Jeff and I went out on our first date. Him just a few days away from being 21 and me 19. Took him two weeks to work up the nerve to ask me out, in which I find to be so sweet. We joke with our kids and friends, how he was not "my type" of guy to go out with, but agreed to go out because I had nothing else to do. We met at one of our favorite restaurants but decided to keep it "casual" and to go for pizza instead. After stopping by Pizza Hut we were not impressed, so we go to leave and his truck would not start. After a nice guy gave us a "jump start" Jeff said, where would you like to go? (Giving me an "out" in case I was not having a good time). I said, I think we need to go to Wal-Mart because you need a new battery. He agreed... so off we go. After a quick change of the battery in the Wal-Mart parking lot we were definitely ready for something to eat. We ended up at Red Lobster talking for hours (about who we are, and our Christian Faith) until the restaurant closed. We grabbed some ice cream from Mc Donald's and back to my car we went. I said, I had a good time. He kissed my hand like a gentleman and said me too.

Hunny I am so glad you worked up the nerve to ask me out, you have been a blessing to me in so so many ways ever since that day. Also, 11 years ago today we found out our first child would be a son. June the 8th will always be a special day to us.

August 1995

"I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you." Genesis 30:27

Last Week of School

We couldn't be more excited! Today was our last day of school...wooohooo! I am ready to spend some time with my boys. These last two weeks I have spent just about everyday at the school and I am very thankful I'm able to be there during their special school actives. Tuesday, Grace was able to go to MDO because another child was out of town. This was a blessing to us both, I could go to Jared's program with out trying to keep her quiet, and she could enjoy playing with her friends at school. Tuesday we wrapped up the baseball season with Caden's baseball Award Ceremony.

On Wednesday Jared joined the local swim team. After "testing" (showing the coaches what he can do) he was upset and didn't want to go back. He said it was really hard and was having trouble breathing. He feels like he will never move up to the next class level. Son, you have only had two weeks of swimming lessons in your life. (He is so hard on himself) The coach told me after Jared's swim test... "His technique was pretty good.. but he needs to work on his breathing. This should not take him long... maybe two or three weeks, then he will be ready to move up." This was EXACTLY what Jared was complaining about. After we talked to him for awhile, Jeff and I told him that he was to give it a try for one month, and then we will see.

After dinner Alyssa invited Grace over to play. Hang on girls!

Jared went to swim class again the next day (today) and he LOVED it! Afterwards... his friend Andrew came home with us for the night! The boys didn't know we would put them to work ;)

Just kidding. Jared had asked the next time the veggies were ready from the garden that he would like to help...

and of course Andrew didn't mind helping, he even found...

this huge Cucumber! These veggies grow extremely fast, literally over night!

I'm sure Jared will kill me one day for posting this one... but somethings never change. Jeff was able to get a picture of Jared with Monkey, and Andrew with his Clifford and "blank-blank", while watching a movie tonight.

Just like when they were little. July 2001.

I'm free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post. Psalm 63:5