Touching Base

I am kind of at a loss for where to even begin to catch up here. So much has happened in the past few months, and yet so little. That probably doesn't make sense.

Anyway, right now I am in shock that Christmas is exactly one week away. Not only am I not prepared gift wise, but I have realized that I still have pictures on my camera from October!! That could explain the lack of updates...cause you KNOW I gotta have a picture. Take the one above for example. It has nothing to do with a hill of beans in China, but it is there....and quite cute, don't you think?

October was a full, gorgeous, busy month filled with a flurry of activity on the dairy. I plan to share more about that with you sometime. November had some fun times and some scary times. (Read: camping trip and a trip to the ER on said camping trip) I need to write about that too... December has mostly been filled with school, school, school....since we took a week off in October and two weeks in November.

I'm in one of those moods where I wish I had a big garage in a neighborhood to drag everything out for a big kahuna garage sale! I think "stuff" weighs me down and clutters my mind and space. Who wants to volunteer to come help me pare down? Ha!

Speaking of paring down.....no problem like that in the grocery department here. I need to go get groceries in the worst way... So I guess the blogging and the re-organizing are going to need to remain on hold a bit longer while I go restock the pantry and refrigerator and finish last minute Christmas shopping.

...................oh yeah.....and give all my sweet guys hugs and kisses. :)

8 Years Old Today

Once again....another birthday. My sweet boys just keep on growing up. I wouldn't want it any other way!

Andrew has had an eventful lead up to his big day with a trip to Branson, where he also made a trip to the ER. He fell off of his bike and broke his left jaw and cut his chin up pretty badly. Thankfully, he is healing up quickly and is all ready to eat Honeybun Birthday Cake. Yum!

Happy 8th Birthday Andrew!!! We love you!

Trunk or Treaters

Only the younger two chose to participate in the Halloween festivities this year. Aren't they cute?!

I Believe I Can Fly

I believe I can touch the sky!

Come on now sing it with me.....

LoL!

I have been taking more pictures here and there....but keeping up with this blogging thing is still a struggle for me, for some reason.

I just loved this photo of Andrew "flying" on the trampoline. I've always loved jumping pictures, whether it's on a trampoline or just on the ground. There is something really neat about action frozen in time. There are so many moments I wish I could freeze....and some I wish I could fast forward, but we won't go there. :)

I recently saw a sign that someone had made for their home that I love. It said....

This
too
shall
pass
......be present.

Wow! I need that.

How about you?

Along those same lines... Have you been to see the new movie COURAGEOUS? If you haven't....then do! Take tissue and go. It just may change your life.

Speaking of life, it feels as if this post should include an all around life update on our family, although there really isn't anything new to share... It's just the usual extraordinary ordinary.

Craig is working his CaTO Disaster Solutions business, and things are rocking along fairly steady. The busy-ness of that comes and goes, as most businesses do. It gives me great joy when I hear un-biased compliments from clients to potential clients about the quality work that Craig delivers. He really is awesome at what he does! I'm not just saying that because he is my husband. ;)

Josh is getting so big! I find myself having to catch my breath when I realize that he's gaining on me everyday. He's built solid, long and lanky. He loves history and science, reading, music, mechanics and construction, his cats and his brothers. I particularly enjoy his spontaneous laugh when something strikes him funny.

Andrew is growing at an equally alarming rate. He's still one head shorter than his older brother and is my sweet cuddle boy. Math comes pretty naturally to him, but his real love is reading. He loves construction and helping out when the veterinarian comes. He calls his cat, Lucy, his "little princess" much to the amusement of Josh.

Nathan is a stinker...a typical 3 year old, baby of the family. We go through very trying times, but it is in those moments I have to remind myself of the phrase on the above mentioned sign.;) He loves to play with anything his older brothers have and thinks it is quite funny to leave the front door open for the "outside" cats to come in.

And me... I'm constantly striving for B-A-L-A-N-C-E in all things. It's my word. My life theme.

What is yours?

Hugs and Kisses on the Dock

Crack the Egg

One of my very favorite Fall activities as a child was jumping on the trampoline. These brothers enjoy it too, wouldn't you say?

Baby Brother is 3!

Can you believe it?! Baby Boy is THREE years old!

Not only is he not a baby anymore, but I guess he isn't a toddler either. {sniff, sniff}

It's okay though. I wouldn't have it any other way, for I know well how very blessed we are.

Nathan is such a joy and adds a bright spot to our days. He's very animated and opinionated. He likes to tell "jokes" and play with mini figures. He's independent, yet cuddly. He still likes his blanky and is not the least bit interested in potty training. His eyes sparkle and his dimples are deep. He says the most grown up things at the funniest times. He likes his chore of feeding our cats. His k's sound like t's {kitty cat is titty tat, car is tar} and his g's sound like d's {Grandma is DamMa :/ and Gracie is Dacie} He fights going to sleep and then sleeps with his eyes open. He is a meat eater and a sweet eater. He loves to run with the big boys and can be a little bossy. He startles easily and pouts his lip when he's sad....

...Oh how I love this sweet boy, let me count the ways....

Happy 3rd Birthday Nathan! We love you!

All Things Boy

Lately, Craig and I have felt a strong calling towards all things BOY. I guess you could say it's about time right? Seeing as how we have three sons... Well yes, we've had the calling for some time now, but we're just starting to come to a place where we are seeing and acknowledging that calling more fully I suppose.

The other day we found this fantastic website called JM Cremp's Adventure Store for Boys. They offer any and every thing a boy could possibly need for adventure. I can't even begin to list it all. You'll just have to click on the link and check it out for yourself. If you have boys to shop for, it would be a great place to consider. And the best part is....it's a family owned company seeking to honor God.

I do not know this family, nor am I being paid to say these things. (Ha! I wish!) I haven't even ordered anything yet, but I probably will soon. It's cool stuff.

The following was copied from the website about the JM Cremp's Company....

JM Cremp’s products encourage strong relationships between you and the extraordinary boys in your lives!

OUR PRODUCTS FOCUS ON THREE AREAS:
1. Adventurous Products for Boys
Boys are unique! They play differently, they think differently, and they learn and develop differently. Boys’ adventures are an important part of their development and JM Cremp’s provides opportunities to create some of those great adventures.

2. Opportunities for Fathers and Sons
Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their father. NASB
Fathers, you have an unequaled opportunity to positively influence your son…or daughter, and our goal is to help you do that.  Our resources support you in finding activities that build connections with your son. From books, to projects such as building birdhouses, to outdoor activities like hunting and fishing and everything in-between—JM Cremp’s offers a little bit of everything.
3.Parenting Resources
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. KJV
Moms and dads, we have a section for you too, as you look for parenting ideas or books. In addition, we provide lots of ideas and products for activities that your entire family can enjoy together—such as coin collecting, teaching kids about money, games, camping gear and more.
JM CREMP’S PROMISE
We constantly evaluate our products for quality and value, and if you’re ever not satisfied with a product from our store due to poor quality, we’ll gladly return it. Nothing is more important to us than providing boys with tools and ideas that allow them to grow into Godly men and foster their adventurous spirit. In fact, as part of our internal review process, our own boys often test the products we carry right alongside the executives. If they give us the A-Okay,we’re confident in passing those quality products on to you.

THE COMPANY’S VISION
Our vision is to help raise-up Godly people by providing resources to parents, creating opportunities for fathers to connect with their sons (and daughters) and to offer products designed to foster the spirit of adventurous boyhood. We strive to honor God in all we do, not claiming perfection, but claiming a moral compass pointing us in a focused direction. We will pursue excellence as a company by continually developing employees and being a resource for our customers. We will strive to respect the balance of growth and profitability seeking wisdom and discernment in our decisions

Reality {and the beginnings of a Home Tour?}

I think you get to know someone better by being in their home. I'm sad to admit that I rarely entertain in our home. It is not because I do not have countless good examples. My mother has always been a lovely hostess and throughout the years her home has been a place people enjoy visiting. It's never been about the house itself, but the people and life lived there. My mother-in-law is also a great example to me when it comes to entertaining. Her home is regularly filled with family and friends alike.

So what is it with me?

Pride? Perfectionism? Fear? Laziness? Busy-ness?

All of the above?

Probably.

So while I'm thinking that YES, indeed, I do need to overcome those things and just change my ways....it also gave me the idea to slowly but surely invite each of you to "visit" our home through pictures. Imperfections and all...

Now on to my post.........

Do you ever get completely overwhelmed with clutter? You can't even figure out where to begin to clean up. I often get this way and consequently, so do the boys. I really wish we would be better examples for them. There comes a point when they flat need help getting things back in order, so that they can keep things neat again. Too bad I don't have someone who can help me do the same with my stuff! :)

So a couple of weeks ago I decided it was time.

Here is what a portion of the big boy's room looked like on a pretty good day...(note: it did NOT look this good on the day I got fed up!)

I took everything out and really cleaned.  This is what was in the living room for a few hours....and it did get worse before it got better.

....and this is what we ended up with....minus the mats that I had not yet put back down.

I tried my best to talk them into parting with the cardboard truck,trailer and police car that is setting on the dresser. It clearly isn't time yet....

I didn't even bother to ask if I could dispose of the sticker collection gracing the wall behind the fan yet....I know one day all too soon they will be ready, and who knows....when the time comes, maybe I won't be!

I find it amazing that when things are all cleaned up, there isn't nearly as much as it seemed like before. I will say though...all told, I carried out two kitchen trash bags of garbage and more kid's meal toys than I care to admit.

It feels good to get a fresh start...hopefully the feeling will spread itself throughout the rest of the house.

A girl can hope right?

Possum Holler

Andrew is a hoot. He has been cracking us up since the day he could talk. He's been pretending to be an opossum for almost as long.

Why an opossum?

I do not know, but if you asked him what his favorite animal is....he MIGHT just say "Possum." He sometimes thinks he is one...

I love him! He makes me smile.

Painting

Recently, Craig has been taking care of a few things around our home that have needed attention. After the boys finished their book work one day, he let them help paint our old garage/shop. They were excited to get to do that and did a great job. As you can tell, it looked REALLY bad to start with, so it was perfect for them to "practice" their painting skills on. There is probably not anything they could have done that would have made it look any worse. I am grateful to Craig for his willingness and patience in having their help. I'm not sure I could have done it!

This is a great example of why I love homeschool!

Oh, and little mister. You didn't think he painted did you? We might be laid back, but not that laid back. After his nap, he ran around "tending" something. He looks like a real high stepper in this picture, but really he was just coming down off a ladder.

What kinds of "grown up" tasks have YOU been willing to include your child/ren in lately?

This Little Light of Mine

Today I want to share a video of my sweet 11 year old niece, Gracie, singing a song called "This Little Light of Mine" by Addison Road. Gracie loves to sing. You may have seen and heard video of her singing with her older brother, Gillan, before. This time it is all Gracie though, and I think she did a beautiful job!

See if you don't agree...

Un-official Beginning of Fall and a Recipe

Time sure does fly, doesn't it?

Yesterday was Labor Day, marking the un-official start to Fall. What a beautiful day it was too!! It was such a sweet reminder of God's faithfulness. We've come through the most oppressive summer in my lifetime, with more days of triple digit heat than not. Then, like a precious, unexpected gift wrapped in blue skies and a crisp breeze, it comes.

Fall.

It is my absolute favorite time of year! I only wish it would last a tad bit longer than it generally does... I just had to pull out one of my fall scented candles. I have been holding off on any decorating, but if this weather sticks around, I won't be able to wait much longer.

Another thing that I like about Fall is the food. Well, I like food year round, but you know....

One of my favorite recipes, Pumpkin Muffins, came from my friend Reba. {Thank you Reba!} If you would like to read her instructions, which are more thorough than I will take the time to do here, you can click on her name and be redirected to her page.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Ingredients:
1 can pumpkin

1 box spice cake mix  
(I sometimes use yellow mix with a few dashes of spices for a less spicy version that the boys like better.)

1 bag cinnamon chips
(I find that half a bag is plenty! These are not always easy to find, but our local-ish store, Homeland, carries them. You can go to the Hershey's Website to find the closest available, or order them online. Totally worth it, I promise! Even non-pumpkin lovers love these muffins.)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Pour ingredients into a bowl and stir until moist.
3. Line or grease or spray muffin pans (the size of your choice).
4. Scoop or spoon "batter" into the tins until flush with the pan.
5. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

Give them a try and let me know what you think! ;)

Let's Tell Jokes

My intent is to rotate posts about the boys...but this one is just too funny not to share. Nathan likes to listen to and tell jokes. One of his favorites is the Knock Knock joke that goes like this...

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Cows say

Cows say who?

No silly! Cows say Moo!

In this video I was attempting to get him to tell me this joke, but it went horribly wrong at my expense.

Enjoy!

If nothing else you will get a kick out of seeing Craig crack up. ;)

Timmy

Back in about April or so, we found 3 kittens in our back yard. Unfortunately, their mother had died shortly before we found them. We decided to keep two of them and gave the third one away. This is what Timmy looked like a few days after we had nursed him to health...

The other kitten was a sweet calico that Josh adored and named J.J. Sadly, she was attacked by a stray dog and didn't make it. We quickly replaced her with another kitten from a friend. Her name is Lucy, and maybe I will introduce her sometime.

Back to Tim....this is what he looks like today.

I don't really think these pictures do justice in showing how much he has grown. He is going to be one BIG cat! I think he looks like a Tiger and have found myself growing quite fond of him.

When I was a little girl, I was very much a cat person. As a young adult, my affection for them waned...but I see it returning. Don't worry...I probably won't become "the crazy cat lady."

The cats do stay outside. This poses a slight problem though. Other cats (and skunks and who know what else) are attracted by the food. We've had to modify the way we feed them, and try to sit with them while they eat for the most part.

Otherwise.....

we WILL be "the crazy cat people."

Oh well...good hunters they will be.

Disclaimer: I have know idea why I'm channeling Yoda. Maybe it has something to do with the 3 little guys in my house?

Monkey Boy

Does this monkey not make you smile?

Soulful eyes. Dimples so deep his cheeks get lost. Grin as big as Dallas!

You've got to watch him though. You can get lost in his boyish charm and start agreeing to things you never intended. He's definitely our baby...but sadly, the baby-ing days are drawing to a close for him...

My cute little two year old will soon be a rambunctious three year old in a matter of weeks. Three is a hard year, from my experience. At least the first half of it is...

So it's time to batten the hatches and hold on tight. As my Daddy always says, "Hold on now! It's gonna get rough. It's gonna get rough."

But you know what else my Daddy always says?

"This too shall pass."

Oh Boys

This makes me smile!

I told the boys to line up so I could get a perspective picture. (No I didn't use that word at the time, but that is what I was going for.) They asked if they could hold the cats. Obviously I said yes, but Nathan wanted to participate in the holding of the cats too.

So he did.

Then I told him to move over by Andrew, so I could have my "stair steps" in  order. He still wanted a tail to hold. :)

One of those cute moments I would like to freeze in time.

S'mores

Who doesn't love s'mores?

Simple.

Gooey.

Fun.

Of course, s'mores are traditionally a campfire favorite. We do love us some camping and campfires...but lets face it. It has been much too hot for sitting around fires! Not to mention the burn ban...

The last couple of times we went camping I made sure to bring along the proper ingredients. We have an electric s'more maker that is fun to use if you don't want to burn your tushy next to a fire in the dead of summer, just to get that roasty flavor and have the fun of turning your marshmallow on a stick.

The thing is....we never did make them on our trips. So I had the stuff, and you know I couldn't let it go to waste!

The s'more maker takes too long for an impatient gal like myself. No, I much prefer to zap 'em in the microwave and shove them directly into my mouth before you can say "S'more please!" Not only are they ready to eat in a hurry, you also don't have to scrape off black crust or ashes. It is perfectly white goodness.

Here's what I started with....

Have you seen these graham crackers? They are already in squares, so no more uneven breakage of the rectangles! Yes!

OH, and these marshmallows! They are GIGANTIC. So gigantic, in fact, that I actually had to cut them in half. I found this good though. It made it where they sat flatter and stuck a little, so they didn't fall over during inflation in the microwave.

And then of course the chocolate. Hersheys. Is there any other kind?

No, I didn't think so.

Maybe when I am a really good blogger (HA!) I will take pictures of every. single. step. in the process.

Until then, you just get the glorious finished product.

Okay wait...before I show it to you, I have to admit.

I may or may not have taken this picture before the actual nuking in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds. Your microwave temperature may vary, so close observation is required. You'll want to hit stop as soon as the marshmallows puff up a bit.

Serve yourself immediately.

Getting a Little Face Lift

This blog is...that is.

It had been awhile since I perused the available options in Blogger. There a few new things that are pretty cool. Some time ago I had added the "reactions" feature to the bottom of the posts. I didn't edit the available choices at that time. It was either "like" or "dislike". Of course no one ever clicks dislike! Even though it is anonymous, who would do that? Anyway, I decided to change my options so that maybe it would give me a little better idea of what people like to read about here. Unfortunately, I lost all my accrued "likes" by changing it. :( And gee, I guess I better make sure I like how it is now or I'll lose those too, if I change again. :/

Anyway...I just wanted to point that out. But please, don't let that stop you from leaving a comment! Like I said, when you click on a reaction, it is completely anonymous so I don't know you were here.

I've also added an option for you to sign up to receive emails whenever I post.

My next project is to get updated pictures of the boys in the sidebar.

Be looking for some new posts this week!

It Takes All Kinds...

...to make the world go round.

What is your special place in this world? What gifts did God give specifically to you to participate in life? What is your purpose? Your calling? Your passion?

These are questions I ask myself on occasion. I think it is good for all of us to evaluate the answers to them from time to time. If not because they have changed, then at least to remind ourselves why we do what we do.

I'm blessed to have a husband who feels he is doing what God made him to do. He has always had such a servant's heart, and he feels that he can use his work to serve and bless others. Yes, he earns a living cleaning floors (and other things), but it is a ministry for him as well. He tells me all the time, "it's the little things that make a difference."

Taking the extra time to listen to the lonely elderly gentleman tell stories from long ago.

Offering to move furniture, at no extra charge, for the widow woman with no one to help her.

Being honest and professional in a time when those things are rare treasures.

Indeed, Craig has a ministry in his work. So do I, and so do you.

Sometimes it is hard for me to see my ministry amongst the mundane. I guess you could say, "I can't see the forest for the pine trees." Sometimes the big picture is not clear when I just look at the moments. Sure, some moments are precious reminders of what I'm doing...

Like when I'm rocking a sleeping baby, or laughing at silly jokes, or listening to Scripture memorization...

But what about the times when we are enduring the third temper tantrum of the day, or an animal did not get fed, or the math paper is still not done at supper time?

It is at these times that my vision gets blurry, but it is also these times that count the most! If my ministry were only cuddles and smiles, that would be easy. But, that wouldn't be much of a ministry would it? Having a servant's heart requires more. It means doing dirty work. It isn't all fun and games.

I know I will continue to get lost in the frustrating moments, but I hope that someday I can look back and see the beautiful tapestry that God was weaving all along. While I was viewing it from behind, where all the colors looked backwards, He was seeing the big picture from the front and carefully laying it all out as He'd planned long ago.

So what about you? Do you ever get a glimpse of the big picture?

Books

I've still got to get back into taking pictures... It's just something that I laid aside for awhile.  I'm sure the excessive heat played a factor, since I prefer taking them outdoors....This picture is from the beginning of summer. I need to get one to compare and see how much they have grown in the last 3 months!

I've been thinking a lot lately about books. I've never been a big reader. The literature that was required in high school, I pretty much just read the Cliff's Notes. Sad, I know. But what is even sadder....that's pretty much par among students these days. Or at least, I'm guessing it is. It may be better or worse than I imagine. Who knows?

Anyway, back in the spring, Craig and I attended a Homeschool conference and for weeks and weeks I thought about all the great things I learned there. One of the speakers who impressed me very much is a man by the name of Mark Hamby. He has an extraordinary publishing company by the name of Lamplighter Ministries. They publish books mostly written in the 19th century and all of them have been carefully selected for character content. Each of them teach powerful lessons about things like: laziness & perseverance, choices & consequences, courage, obedience & boundaries, peer pressure, pride & willfulness, salvation, self-control, selflessness & selfishness, sibling rivalry, virtue & purity.  They sound very interesting to me on the outside looking in...I just wonder if I could really get into them. I'd like to try, and most certainly would like to get the boys interested in them. They do love to read!

Lamplighter Publishing says: " Building Christ-like character....one story at a time" is the compelling mission of Lamplighter Publishing. Guided by the biblical mandates of Malachi 4:6, Luke 1:17 and Romans 5, Lamplighter is turning the hearts of parents and children toward eternal values through the influence of godly role models who demonstrate enduring character. infused with biblical insights, this family collection of rare books provides a wholesome substitute for our sedated, media-saturated culture that is "amusing itself to death."

...."amusing itself to death." Do you know the literal meaning of the word amuse? It means 'not to think.' Now isn't that a sobering thought in our entertainment and amusement driven society?

What about you? Do you like to read? What type of books are your favorite? Are there any you see as "must reads" for your children?  Does character count?

New Technology

Can you believe I am posting from a phone?! I can't. I am not known to be up on the latest technology and this smart phone may be too much for me. Good thing it is Craig's. Just wanted to try it out, and to let you know I will try and get another post up soon. We are looking forward to a fun and full weekend.

Until next time!

Fast Train

WARNING: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! Very random thoughts...

Be still my heart. This picture makes me want to cry for two reasons.

1.) I gave this little guy a haircut after this picture was taken and got it WAY shorter than I wanted to.

2.) It reminds me that time is flying by like a really fast moving train.

As I mentioned a few days ago, I have looked back at old pictures recently and find my jaw on the desk when I realize how big the boys have gotten!

It makes me think...

I've only got one shot at this Mothering thing.

How many regrets will I have?

I'm sure I will have some... I do.

But today is new. This moment is new.

Each a gift wrapped with the hope of redemption.

It's not about me anyway.

It's not me.

That's a good thing too, because I mess up way too much.

Grace

Mercy

Peace

Breathe in, Breathe out.

The dried Play Doh that has been collecting dust on the entry table.

The cereal crunching under foot.

The naked toddler streaking through the house.

The puddles under the toddler streaking through the house.

These are the things that quietly fade away...

Piles of LEGOs littering the floor.

Dirty boots flung by the door. (This really isn't a poem....or is it?)

The constant ring of nasty around the toilet bowl on the floor.

I'm sure hoping that last thing will quietly fade away...

Children have a way of growing so slowly that you don't even notice that you have to stoop less and less to be at eye level.

One day not so very far away, I will be looking my eldest eye to eye.

I have no doubt that not long after he'll be stooping for me. (or I'll need a step stool..)

A fast moving train.

Time keeps chugging along and I hope that somewhere along the way...

...all the right lessons are taught.

...enough hugs are given.

...enough pictures taken.

...enough memories made.

...enough love shown.

No real regrets because........

God was the Author of it all.

Twin Cousins

Okay, no.

That doesn't even make sense.

This is Andrew with my cousin's daughter, Raelee.

Why did I call them Twin Cousins?

Well..... That is because they were born on the exact same day!

They are around an hour apart, and were born in hospitals about a half an hour apart.

Pretty cool, huh?

We had the opportunity to spend some time with Raelee on our July camping trip and she kept thinking that one of them was older than the other by a year.  I can't remember which.....I think she thought she was older than Andrew.  I finally reminded her that they were born the same day, same year.

They thought that was neat.....and so do I. :)

Stronger

It's everywhere. It's everyone.

No matter where you go, you'll find troubled people.

People hurting, people sick, people worried, people needing help, people needing hope...

For many, like myself, music ministers to the soul. There are all types of music, but different styles speak more to some than others. Sometimes, though, the lyrics of one style may be just what a lover of another style may need.

Recently I was listening to my favorite radio station KLOVE and realized how very beautiful the message of Mandisa's song "Stronger" is. I thought of people in my life who may not care for her style, but could certainly be blessed by the message of her song.

So for all my family and friends out there who are needing HOPE, please take a moment to read the following lyrics. Or, if you would like to listen, play the video.

Enjoy and God Bless!

Stronger

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

Back in the Saddle

It's already that time again...SCHOOL time! Summer has flown by in an overheated blur, and I have little to nothing on this blog to show for it. BUT! I'm back in the saddle again, so to speak.

Here's a brief catch up....

Since my last writing we have endured the HOTTEST summer ever in recorded history, and although we have had a break in the temps as of late, summer is far from over. It literally has felt like stepping into a preheated oven. Unfortunately, Craig's truck was without A/C for the majority of the summer. It's all good now though. Praise the Lord!

The end of June was a fun week for Josh and Craig as they went to camp. I think all the kids really enjoyed having Craig there again this year. He can be quite silly and entertaining. He also provides some much needed structure for a lot of the boys who need a good role model to look up to. I get tickled each time I hear him tell about their first night, when they lined them up drill instructor style and told them they had 2 minutes each for a shower. Gave them a little dose of shock and awe right off the bat!

We enjoyed another 4th of July at my Aunt Mona and Uncle David's lovely place. The food, fun, fellowship and fireworks were spectacular, as usual. We so admire and appreciate their hospitality to family, friends and strangers alike.

Next up was our annual Kid's Music Camp at church. This was my second year to help and I have to be really honest here. I wasn't looking forward to it. At. all.
But just as I expected, my heart was softened as I was blessed by the kids day after day. We had....oh....I want to say maybe 76 kids participate. They are broken up into small groups and rotate to each class where they practice about 3 songs. I was responsible for the first 3 songs of the musical. Usually there are some groups that sing really well, and some groups that, for the most part, just sit and look at you. This year I can't say that. Every group sang their hearts out!

Having fun really is contagious. Seeing them enjoy it, made me enjoy it. Seeing me enjoy it, made them enjoy it. Hmmm.....maybe I could use this phenomenon in homeschooling this year.....

Near the end of July we took an unplanned camping trip to Branson along with my Uncle Jody, his family and friends. We truly had a great time and are already planning and hoping to go back soon.

Craig and I then celebrated 15 years of marriage. We've come a long way baby! I can say, although we have had big ups and big downs, we are better friends today than ever before. I look forward to what the next 15 years and beyond have in store.

So here we are....a full week into the new school year, and I have yet to take beginning of the year pictures. I've slacked off way too much on picture taking in general, but that is going to change.

I've spent some time recently looking back at old posts and realized how much the boys have grown and changed. I don't want to wake up one day and have anymore of a chunk missing from my memory than there already is. I want to continue with this blogging journey, not for anyone else, but for two clear purposes.

1.) To bring glory to God.
2.) To have a record of my life's work.

If anyone enjoys the journey with me, that is all the better.

P.S. Pictures next time, I promise!

Summer

Whew! It's been almost 2 months since I've done any blogging....except for the post dated one I just put up for Josh's birthday.  Don't forget to scroll down and read it too.

Summer vacation is now in full swing. We started it off by taking a camping trip to Texas. We arrived VERY late at night at Cooper Lake State Park, near where my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece live. The following day we arose after about 5 hours of sleep to head out for Dallas. I had made reservations for a birthday surprise for Josh.

It may appear that the younger boys were the most excited, but did you catch the grin on Josh's face? He doesn't always show his emotion quite as exuberantly as his little brothers. I think the reaction would have been bigger had he not accidentally seen Legoland Discovery Center listed in my bookmarks on the computer. I had done such a good job of keeping the surprise a secret until the day before.... It was still a fun surprise though. I would say it wasn't everything we expected or hoped it would be, and it would have probably been just as fun to take them to a plain Lego store...but we can now say we've been there and done that. I hope it at least is a fun memory that they will hold for a long time.

We spent the remainder of our trip relaxing and enjoying doing nothing. We were able to visit with Rudy, Christy, Gillan and Gracie each day. Gillan and Gracie got to stay in the trailer with us on Friday night and then they all went swimming in the lake the next day, after Craig cooked them a "beastly breakfast" (Gillan's words).

We made it home without incident just in time for a week of Vacation Bible School and Josh's actual birthday day. VBS was a fun week for all. It is an amazing (unheard of) blessing to be in a church where they actually have to turn volunteer workers away!! Wow! There is such a sweet servant spirit among our church family. I spent the week keeping the nursery for the worker's children. Along with Nathan, we had 3-4 more toddlers each day. It was fun and easy.

 
So now here we sit on this side of VBS with the remainder of summer ahead. Josh has camp coming up soon and then in July we have music camp. Between that I'm not sure what all we will do. Maybe some swimming, reading, organizing......and MATH!

June 6

Today our Joshua turns 10 years old. Ten years old!! How can that be? We're in the double digits now and over half way to "adulthood." Impossible.....

Josh is such a neat kid. He is a thinker and a question ask-er. He likes to be in the know about things, and remembers most of it. Though he is not fond of math, he still has such an 'engineer' mind. He can imagine, draw and build complex things. He is interested in how things work too. I haven't seen it yet, but was thrilled when I learned he found an old lawn mower in a junk pile and dismantled it. Maybe someday he'll put it back together.... It would be nice if he could get it running since ours is broken. ;)

Josh also loves history, science and reading. He is like his Daddy when it comes to reading random information. If either of them are sitting at a table eating and there is something there with words on it, they are reading it. Cereal box, paper, junk mail, camera manual.......anything! Soaking in information to be filed away.

Josh is a great big brother to Andrew and Nathan. Though he can be a bit bossy at times, he loves them fiercely. They are his best friends and I love that.

I recently had the unfortunate opportunity to witness Josh's raw emotions in grief when his kitten was killed by a stray dog right in front of his eyes. It was both heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. What I mean by that is, yes, it was heartbreaking to see him so sad and to know what he had witnessed, but at the same time, it was beautiful to see the deep care he had for the life of that little kitten.

This year was the year Josh made his profession of faith public and was baptized. He is like me in that, he has a very quiet faith. He doesn't talk about it a lot, but you can tell it is there and he exudes a sweet spirit.

I haven't recently done an official height check, but Josh is quite tall next to kids his age, and some even older. He is up to my shoulder and wears a size 7 to 7 and a half (men's) shoe. I'm not prepared to look him in the eye and then soon be looking up at him. That's going to feel really weird...

For now, I want to try as best I can to be in the moment....for time is flashing by.

Happy 10th Birthday Joshua!! We love you SO very much. Keep growing and learning about all kinds of things, but most of all grow and learn all about the LOVE of God!

Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like a sweet perfume.  -Ephesians 5:2

Childhood

Do you ever long for those simple childhood days?

• Days free from worry, concern, or responsibility? 

• Days with beautiful blue skies, gentle breezes, and short sleeve (holes in your jeans) kind of temperatures? 

•  Days when your only decision in life is choosing between playing in the sand, riding your bike, or jumping on the trampoline?

I do.

Thankfully, life is not quite as hectic as it was a few weeks ago. I keep finding that my heart is restless to be more childlike again. I want to relax and have fun for awhile. I know that I am a parent, and that I'm not supposed to try to be "the friend." However, I think it is okay to be friends with your kids too, as long as it isn't that way all the time, and the parenting still gets done. 

The trouble is....I'm still the Mom. There is still constant supervision and correction to be done.

And I'm left wondering......How do they view me?

At this point....I prefer not to speculate. I'm afraid of what I might find. Instead, I'm going to publish this post, and set out to make sure that, if only for this weekend, they see in me a glimpse of the Mother I long to be.

She is pleasant, she is firm, she is filled with lovingkindness, she seizes the moment, she smiles, she teaches, she laughs, she loves............

A Little Mixture

Since it's been such a long time since I've posted anything, much less pictures of the boys....I decided to put a variety up. They really aren't in any particular order and were taken on two different days. I guess you can figure that out based on the clothes.  ;)

Peek a Boo! This little guy says he is a Jedi.

Making a "fortune teller." Do you remember those?

Another Book Worm

He's getting long and lean.

Wagon Ride  (Yes, he does sit when the wagon is in motion.)

Walking to Grandma's house, cap under arm.

It is hard to get a natural smile from him for pictures. Not too bad here.

Sandbox Fun

Growing fast!

Loving on Shadow

JUMP!

Lazy Dog Days

Getting in on the fun.

Look Mama, I found a "motor." (It's a motorcycle.)

AhHA!

This was funny and a  little sad. I wanted to take a picture of them together. Andrew put his arm around Josh, and Josh made him take it off.  :(

So then, this is what I got.

We are busy trying to finish up the end of 1st grade and 4th grade. We are loving the spring weather and looking forward, with much anticipation, to the summer ahead. Craig and I plan to attend a homeschooling convention in a few weeks, and will be preparing for 2nd grade and 5th grade.  It is hard to believe we have been a homeschooling family for, soon to be, 4 complete years. I am by NO means an expert yet, but I'm feeling more confident as we go.

As for the little guy....he's as busy as ever.  Just today I discovered something he can enjoy while we work, that kept him quiet and occupied for a very good little while. Play Doh! We will likely be trying that again.

I still really want to learn how to convert videos to be able to upload them to the internet. I've got a couple of really cute ones! If anyone can help me, PLEASE let me know.