Once again almost a month has passed since I posted. Where in the world does time go?? I had hoped to get back on and had hoped to catch up. Oh well, better late than never. I could skip and just start with now, bus I will not do that considering I am using this blog as a lazy girl's family scrapbook :)!
Last entry caught us up through June....
Our family headed out for the Beach for July 4th week.... as many of you know that week is the main vacation week for most of the working world. Especially for many, many, many, people in our area. B works in furniture and it happens to be the week his plant closes, leaving it to be the week we go on vacation. This year we did a new thing. Now.... for those of you that really know me, you were concerned (as I was) about this trip. We were going to be camping (yes, in a camper) with M & Am & Baby C with our 5. So, this was not our normal. But, we thought we could try it once.
I will admit it was NOT bad. It could have been much worse. It could have rained all 7 days instead of 5. Yes, it rained everyday, but we did have some periods of sun and no rain, and some sun with rain.
Despite all the storms, and all the liquid sunshine, this ole' girl made it all week without losing her mind. We did have a great time with our family, learned to compromise, put others first, some patience and ate really well!! You will see that Am who is 8 months pregnant even survived the week!! Oh, and Kea who has always freaked over storms, was covered in God's grace!! He did not freak out on us once! (I have to admit....I was freaked out during MANY of those storms!!) And now it seems as if God has taken that terrible fear from him! GOD is good!!
Head outta the sand!
Bub
One of the many times spent under the tent while raining!!
See the clouds in the beyond the hotel??
Bub & Baby C cover Kea!
One of the rainy days we headed to the upside down place - Wonder*orks..... let me note this place is an absolute NIGHTMARE....... fun for kids maybe? But for a parent that has a problem with CROWDS and rude people allowing their children to be rude.... this was a total waste of $$$. You could not do anything without someone pushing, shoving, or passing you in line. I know we should have know better than go here during the week of the 4th, while it was raining. EVERYONE WAS THERE!! And there brothers, too! When your 3 year old grandson say, "Lolli, I ready to get outta dis place" You know its time to go!! I can't remember who said this, but it is VERY true. It was like the Science Center on Steroids!!
Baby C is still stressed over his experience at Wonder*orks
Another afternoon in the camper, out of the rain. And yes, B is in a hoodie. He swore Am was trying to hang meat! :)
Here comes the sun!!
Uncle Kea reading to Baby C
This picture cracks me up. Am is in the white hat, and they dug a hole for her belly (Baby M) so she could get some sun on her back!!
At least one gorgeous day on the beach!
The calm before the storm one afternoon.
Loves playing in the sand.
He wore his Daddy out, in the water, out of the water!
Bub! :)
Daddy & Sis
One of many wave rides
Running from the waves - funny!
A great place to rest
A frequent stop while riding golf carts
Baby C loves Sandy, we had to visit him often!
Yes, we had a good time! And anytime I am with my family, I will cherish it. Even in the wet, the soppy, the storms, the rains, the craziness, the sunshine and the sand. Time is fleeting, and my children are growing, and I need to be thankful for these times in my life!! What JOY my family brings to my life! So blessed!
If you have more than one child, you realize when they are just a bundle in your arms how different they can be. It is amazing the differences in my children.
Our girls have always been very studious, and they worked (& still working) very hard in school. Never really had to push them to get their work done. They knew what they had to do, and they did it. Very smart, you know what they say about book smart? :)
Now Bub, well he is also very smart, but he is the athletic/social type. He tends to put things off til the last minute, and sometimes he does just enough to get by. When he puts his mind to it, he gets it done, and makes good grades. Since grades make a huge difference in High School, we have to push a little more, and sometimes I worry, so I bug him because, he rarely has homework which is a little odd to me. He says he does it at school. And sometimes I accept that and hope for the best! He knows what is expected and obviously he does work hard.
On Sunday, he was inducted into the National Honor Society!!! Proof that he has been working hard and doing what he is supposed to be doing!! It is an honer to be a candidate for NHS! Just having good grades, doesn't get you chosen. You must also meet the criteria of leadership, service and character! What a great honor to be inducted into this group of fine students!!! As parents, we know that he is a good kid, but we also know that the world can get in the way of a lot of things. You raise your children and you pray that God will lead and guide them and sometimes, some get lost a long the way. This makes us very proud that its just not us as biased parents but, that his qualities are recognized by teachers and faculty members as well.
He may not think this a big deal, but we are extremely proud of him and his accomplishments!
Purposely turned his head.... I drive him crazy with the camera!
Awwww he smiled for me! :)
This pretty girl is a 2nd cousin! Can you see the resemblance? She is always beside him because of names being in alphabetical order! B & her Dad were cut-ups in school. They tricked a teacher into believing one was the other!
A great groups of boys fine young men! They have grown up together!! I can't believe that they are all driving!!! :( yesterday they were only 9!
Bub,
We want you to know that we are extremely proud of you and your accomplishments! Continue to work hard, as you see it pays off. You are a great example to your friends, and your classmates. Choose to be a leader and not a follower. Do what you know is right at all times. Even when you think no one is looking. Keep your eyes on the Lord and He will direct your path. We thank God for you and what He is doing in your life!
Don't know about you but, I am ready for the weekend. This week has seemed to drag on. Although, time does fly by too quickly, I am ready for this week to be over. This week we have had more rain, and more cold. It just makes me feel blah! I know some of you may think I am a whiner, because 43 degrees isn't the slightest bit cold to some of you. And I know that all this whining doesn't sound like JOY! But, I am ready for some SUNSHINE and some warm Spring days. And the fact that BASEBALL SEASON is in full swing for this awesome teenager......
cold + baseball game = big coats, gloves, blankets. Which equals too cold for baseball!!! Today's forecast is mostly cloudy and the high is 48. By the time the game is over it will be dark and colder. Brrr!! Go ahead, call me a whiner....cause I am! HA!!
Thinking about Bub and baseball. This time last year he had broken his thumb during the first game. And was out for about half the season. While it was tough on him, it was a great learning experience for him.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but its the Lord's purpose that prevails". Proverbs 19:21
He clung to that verse, and even today, he knows that God has a purpose and a plan for his life. Makes my heart smile to know that he has God's word in his heart. I look at this man child and wonder what happened to the funny, rough and tumble little boy that was our families entertainment?? Now, he is a sophomore in high school and days are fleeting. He will be 16 next month!! YIKES!! Two years from now he will be three months from graduating. :( I am tearing up just thinking about it!!
He was 8 or 9 in this picture.
Freshman Year
Thank you Lord for your many blessings! Thank you for the rain, I know we need it, but I could really do without the mud, lol! Thank you for the opportunity to raise this man child that sometimes wears me out. But, he is a great reminder of how I must wear you out as well. Thank you for the JOY you have given me in the gifts of my children. Give me grace and mercy that I may extend to my children as they grow up. Keep your hand of protection on my children. May they cling to your word, and may they desire to focus on you and the plans you have for them. Help me to clothe myself with kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness and patience!
Many of you know that me & Mr B (Lolli & Pop) are expecting another grand-blessing!! And we got to find out He? or She? Many young couples have these Gender Revealing Parties - some do cake after dinner and some do balloons.... well, Am said, " There is NO WAY I could wait till after dinner to find out, so we are doing balloons."
They decided to do the revealing where they got married... soooo sweet, huh??? Even though it was a might bit chilly it was a great place to reveal if we would see Blue or Pink.....
???
Am & M's Wedding Day!
(click on play arrow)
Baby C wasn't to keen on the idea of opening the box..... there were just too many people looking at him!! What a fun way to announce if the baby is a "he" or a "she" !!
As you can see some of us were thinking that maybe, just maybe, we could have some pink in our future.....
But, not to be... This handsome little man is going to have a baby brother!!!
And a baby makes 4!!!
PawPaw and Granny - this will make great-grandchild # 4!!!
Uncle Kea said all along, "its going to be a BOY!" He loves being a silly UNCLE!! Can't you tell! lol!!
Thank you Lord for your blessings on our family! Keep this precious little family in your care! May we all share your love with their children and may you get the glory for it all!!
On Sunday, I was somewhat dreading Monday morning. The boys were starting back to school, and Sis was starting another semester of college. It doesn't take me very long to become spoiled, not having to get up earlier each morning to get them all up and off to school. I am NOT a morning person, and it takes me about 15-30 seconds to become agitated when I wake up, and then in my agitation, I get the opportunity to wake up the kids....(well ok, B - THE ULTIMATE IN MORNING PERSONs - helps some mornings) and I am not sure where they get their less than desirable morning attitudes, (uh hmm) but it is not my favorite thing to do. Lovin' and cuddling on them, well lets say, it doesn't work. On top of that, when school is back in session, so is basketball, baseball, band, etc. I will just admit, I was not looking forward to the return of our schedules. I loved the lazy days of our time off, and the kids did too. (well except for the fact that Bub & Sis had their wisdom teeth removed the day AFTER Christmas - how's that for a Merry Christmas??!! HA!)
As usual, all good things come to an end, and we have to return to the daily life as we know it.
BUT...I want to give the LORD some PRAISE!!! God is working in some areas of my life and I am seeking JOY in my every day walk. Knowing Monday morning was going to be harder than usual, I made a plan to get up early, I prayed and made a choice to get out of the bed with a better attitude than normal. I made chocolate chip pancakes and woke the kids, (without having to return to the teenage boy 10 times!! or raising my voice! YAY!!) the morning was peaceful, we got out of the door early. It was so the opposite of what I was soooo dreading!! I actually found some JOY that morning.
Now, yesterday, was not so great, Kea woke up in a very fowl mood. (still not sure who he gets that from??) But, again I made a choice to look for JOY. I didn't find any with him until I begin to sing, "I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, so very happy".... at first I saw horns, but by the time I got to" happy", he broke out into his sweet little grin and laughed at me. That turned his frown upside down!
This morning was ok. I found JOY in ok. OK is a calm morning, no grumpiness, harsh words, picking around, and getting out the door on time. I will take OK everyday!
Now every morning, may not be JOYful, and I may forget to chose for my morning to be different, (Fridays are the worst!) And I may not feel at all like I have joy in my heart, but I need to remember, that my JOY comes from the Lord and I need to show it, even when I don't feel like it. Just a few days of me being different, has shown me that if I make an intentional choice for our mornings to be calmer, maybe it was the Mom that is SO NOT A MORNING PERSON. For now, I will continue to look for JOY and pray that God will do a work in me!
Go ahead and click on the song below... I know you have been singing it in your head anyway!!
Did I get your attention with the title of this post?
Well, this is what some people may think. Maybe it seems odd to them that I feel differently about a children's Christmas play. Sometimes I even want to shake them (don't judge - just being honest). But, I just keep my ugly thoughts to myself. Because, I understand, that God does not lead everyone to serve Him in the same way.
God uses everything He calls us to do for Him, and sometimes I totally miss the lesson He has for me.
God puts opportunities in our paths daily, maybe its just in the slow checkout line at the grocery store, and maybe its a children's Christmas play that takes two months of practicing.( which means learning the same songs over & over & over, which are still in my head, lol) He has a plan for each of them. Maybe its so that I will slow down and pay attention instead of hurrying along for my benefit. Or maybe its to bless me with being a part of something that requires patience, understanding, and being able to see that His hand is all over. And no matter what, He has everything under control and I just need to trust Him.
Not to mention, the most important thing the HOPE that was born on Christmas. In Christ's birth God provided HOPE. Hope to a lost and dying world.
God poured a blessing out on me through this play.Poor B, he has to put up with me, but he is so encouraging and I thank God, that He called B to children's ministry in the first place. He is such a kid at heart!! I love that man!! All the helpers that God placed to help us blessed me so much. And our children.... I know I am biased, but I mean it when I say... we have the best kids ever!!! They are such a blessing to me! A special thanks to Deidre for posting the pictures (I hope you don't mind).... I rarely get pictures of the play!!
My little Stable Boy!! He did such a good job!! He was really into his part. As well as everyone else's!
Sing it Kea!!!
Pictures of most of the kids.... and E! She gives me goose bumps when she sings!!
This picture - the donkey...he is cracking me up. And the sweet little maid... seeing her overcome a fear of singing alone is a true blessing. Not to mention she loved doing the play.
Another sweet little voice!!
Cutest angels & animals ever!
Our Hotel Manager!
This sweet girl has grown up way too fast.... I changed her diapers. (come to think of it... I have changed a lot of these kids daipers!!)
Sam, the Samaritan was great!!
So proud of all the kids that were in the play. They worked hard and they did their best for Jesus!! So for me it was NOT just a Christmas play.
In the busyness of this season, or in the daily struggles of life, in your heartache or pain, remember
When the mountain seems to high
and the river way to wide
there's a hand that is waiting to lead you to the other side
Never forget there is Hope!
