Bring Me Hope

Caden was excited to ride in the Bike-A-Thon for Bring Me Hope this morning!  All money raised will go to sending orphans in China to camp to hear about Jesus. If you would like to donate let me know. The money is due April 15th. Sweet friends of ours that went to this camp last year are adopting a child that they met there.

He was SO excited about helping with this! He rode 36 laps which =18 miles!

The 4-5-6 grade!

The impact these kids have made in the Children of China is truly amaizing!

“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” Proverbs 20:7

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt like a real grump and a failure as a mom.  And, just before Jared left with the scouts for a weekend of camping.

He was not wanting to go, which is really odd because normally he enjoys going with the Scouts.Thankfully we had the opportunity to pray and talk just before the other scouts showed up and he had a smile on his face and we left on a good note. It was just one of those days/weeks.

And it's moments like this that make it all worth it. Knowing that I'm doing at least one thing right as a parent.

'Look Mommy! I drew a picture of baby Jesus inside my heart"

Aww...and what could me more perfect to take the stress away... a nice cold glass of limonade! Ha!!

 Just what I needed! A good laugh! Grace made her very first glass of limonade :)

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22

The Sun Came Out & Dried Up All The Rain

and we've been enjoying the great out doors once again.

No matter what these two are doing it always turns into a competition. Thankfully most of the time it's fun and enjoyable for the both of them. ;)

I took this one of Grace a few weeks ago. I saw her running around playing and gathering sticks but had no idea she was doing this. I never know what she will be up to. ;)

Having a great time at "Friday Play Day" at the park!

And these three had a blast together!! Fun family memories were made this weekend! My sister is going through a difficult time in her life and please keep her in your prayers. God is moving and doing great things in her life and He is taking care of her for sure! God is good! Love you sweet sister! :)

Neighbor fun! Thanks sweet friends for feeding us and a few extra kids this weekend!

Grace loves to garden, so she was very excited when we let her start her very own little garden this year. She will be the one to water and take care of it all by herself...I will keep ya posted on how she does. :)

Her and her Daddy planted cucumbers, carrots, and decorative gourds (cute little pumpkins).

I have also started on my first staining project. Staining and weathering our bathroom cabinets! It has been a fun project so far and it's not near over yet. :)  Lots more to do this week but it looks like it will be later before I can get back to it:(  I'm excited to see the final results!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

A Weekend Off

Jeff and I were talking the other day and realized... Aside from the holidays, our trip to Arkansas in November, or one of us getting sick or in the hospital recently he has worked every weekend for the past 12 months. Wow. Without going into to many details I will just say, I love his new boss! Thank you Greg, for caring about your employees and understanding that family is important.

It was nice having a laid back weekend and spending time together just getting a few things done around the house. 

Grace helping her Daddy. Actually, she got very upset, saying "Daddy, don't tear Mommy's house down!" 

The kids did a great job!

Painting the pantry...

and tilling the garden.

When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember:
God gives good times and hard times,
and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Spring Break

Today the boy's are back to school and I am already missing them... I am so ready for summer vacation! This year we didn't have a lot of plans... We've stayed up late,  and have slept in.  And it was wonderful!  It was nice not having a schedule and for us to just relax.

We went on a fun nature walk down the street. What I thought would be a short 30 minute walk ended up being over an hour. We came back a little muddy and a little sun burnt. :)

Her first trip to the zoo.

Jared was at his cousin's and Caden, Grace and I went to the movies. :)

Friday night the boy's spent the night with friends and Daddy took us girls out for some carnival fun.

She had a blast!

We always enjoy Spring Break and it always goes by way to fast.

“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
Luke 6:31

Perfect Zoo Day

I love Spring Break and I love that I have had a week to spend with the kids.  Last weekend we were supposed to have gone camping with several friends, but thanks to the rain, we decided to cancel. But we could not have been blessed with more beautiful weather this week and we have taken advantage of it.  Jeff took a day off of work and we were excited, it couldn't have been a more perfect day for a trip to the zoo!

This was Grace's first adventure and it's so hard to believe Caden was exactly Grace's age the last time we were there. I was Spring Break 2007... I know, we're awful.

This picture makes me laugh..three for three ;)

 

A few photos I took of some of God's beautiful creations..........

Spring Break 2007.  Jared was 7,  Caden was 4, and I was four months pregnant with Grace. 

I love that Caden and Grace are sitting alike petting the goats:)

She loved her first visit to Caldwell Zoo!

God made every kind of animal. He made the wild animals, the tame animals, and all the small crawling things. And God saw that this was good. Genesis 1:25

First's

The latest news around our house...

This week was one we were really looking forward to. It was one of those weeks when you had something fun planned away from the house everyday of the week including the up coming weekend. But as we all know we can plan out our lives but when God has different plans for you, your plans will get changed. With forecasters predicting 6 or more inches of rain with in four days we canceled our camping trip for this weekend. That along with another week of sickness around our house. Grace has had an awful stomach bug all week, so you can guess what my week consisted of. On Wed Jeff came home from work not feeling well, and woke up with Pink Eye on Thursday. I am so ready for all of us to get well and stay that way longer than a day or two!! Any how, on to a happier note...

Jared got behind the wheel for the first time earlier this week. Well... not really a happier note but a lot more fun to blog about. ;)

His Dad let him park his truck one afternoon and he did a great job, no one got ran over, hurt or injured. Ha! I am SO not ready for this. I'm very thankful for the 3 1/2 years we still have (maybe longer ;)..) before this is a reality.

Caden's got his first basketball photos in this week. He finished up his first basketball season two weeks ago and we really enjoyed watching him play! I will say though, I am glad to have my Saturday mornings back and not running around the house trying to rush out the door.

Grace wrote our names for the first time this week. I had told her earlier in the day how to spell them and she remembered a few hours later and surprised me with our names on a paper plate. I love it!

A photo of Grace's first sleepover. So cute! 

Thank you Aimee for the pictures!

And last but not least, Jeff finished his first ever defensive driving course!

“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.”
Proverbs 16:1

Good Morning...

While driving home this morning one of her favorite songs came on K-love

Gettin her groove on and praising her Jesus ;)

“Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! ” Psalm 98:4

Life Through the Lens of my Camera Phone

Well, I feel like it is the story of our lives these days.

We are either out-of-control busy or sick.  And for the last two weeks it has been the latter. From pink eye, kidney stones, wisdom teeth, my surgery, and high blood pressure. I did get out some on Tuesday and as soon as I did I had to leave MOPS early because the doctor wanted to see me ASAP. Thank you so much Charity, for taking Grace for me!

With the surgery and being put to 'sleep' along with the pain meds my blood pressure dropped to 80/30, so as I was told I didn't take my medication for several days.

Well, three and four days later this was way beyond safe. For some reason my medication was not bringing it down, so he put me on stronger meds and beta blockers. This was scary. I did start to regret having the surgery. But, it was good to find out that this is normal with someone with high blood pressure having surgery and we will take precautions 'if' there is a next time. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and for that I am so grateful.

So, along with being sick comes laying in bed, sleeping, a lack of energy and a whole lot of doing nothing...including not updating the family blog. So, here is the last few weeks in pictures from my camera phone or pictures friends have sent me.

I lost count how many time the kids came into my room to check on me. This was Monday evening about 9 when he really needed to be getting ready for bed. Instead, he was sitting by my bed side visiting with me.

I can't remember what day this was, my days last week are running together...it was either Saturday or Sunday. Caden and I playing Checkers in bed for over an hour. 

This made me smile, and almost cry. On Monday evening Jared fixed dinner for us and he did a great job! He chose the menu and prepared it himself. I asked him if he wanted me to help and he said  "No, go sit down, I got it." He is growing up :(

Grace and our neighbor Alyssa having fun at the yogurt bar.  Miss. Grace also had her very first friend sleepover last Wednesday night. Thank you Akin's! And if you have pictures I would love to see them! She had a blast and didn't miss me not one little bit. When I went to pick her up from Mother's Day Out on Thursday afternoon she was wanting Alyssa's mommy to pick her up like she had the two weeks before. ;) Thank you, Carrie!

Beautiful flowers I received.

We can not tell you how grateful we are to have been blessed with wonderful friends that helped us during this time.

All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:5