Love

My hubby and kids love surfing. Well most of the kids love it...BUT each time my man goes out surfing he drops to his knee and offers up prayers of thanksgiving and protection. Our kids have joined him in this--and my nephews too! This sight warms my heart. Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

I think it is sad how in today's world Memorial Day is simply about bbq's and the start of summer vacations. There is SO much more to it.

A quick history lesson for you....
Memorial Day History:

When was Memorial Day first celebrated?

Memorial day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868. It was observed by placing flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers during the first national celebration. Gen. James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which around 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.

Why is Memorial Day celebrated on May 30?

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. This date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

I love history and learning more of the "whys" to what we celebrate. My daddy served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years and I am incredibly grateful for his service. My brother served in the U.S. Army and I still have many friends serving in our armed forces. My thankfulness and gratitude goes out to those currently serving and those who have served in our armed forces. Take some time this weekend and thank a veteran.

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!!

Choosing Curriculum Creates Craziness

ACK!!!  It's that time of year and I want to pull my hair out.  I really think pulling it out one strand at a time would create less of a headache than trying to figure out what to use next year for my kiddos.  I am confident *think* I might have some things figured out.  Maybe.  Possibly.  Or not.  

My mind is all jumbled up.  I keep trying to write coherently and all I can think of is: Apologia, Paths of Exploration, Notgrass, Real Science 4 Kids, Christian Light Publications, Saxon Math....and it continues. Then, once I "decide" on something I have to go to the all knowing guru, Cathy Duffy, and see what she has to say about my choice.  What am I doing to myself?!  Just when I think I've found what I want I see or hear of something else that might work too.  I need to remember, K.I.S.S....Keep it simple Stupid.  :)  

I want next year to be our best yet.  I want my kids to enjoy school.  I want to make a schedule and stick to it.  I want to find a co-op that I can reasonably pull off---financially, time commitments, and age ranges of my babies.  (Will I ever stop referring to them as my babies?  Probably not.)  

Right now I want a dinner fairy to come and cook for me and my family tonight, but since that is unlikely I guess I need to run.  :)  What curriculum issues are ailing you?

BTW, I can't add the promised picture until I delete stuff from my hard drive.  Apparently my hard drive is full.....

Finding joy in the small things

This economy has hit just about everyone I know.  And it's a little more difficult when it hits your own checkbook, right?  We have definitely been in better financial times, but even so we are making things work and finding ways to be creative.  The past several days I have been *extremely* down when it comes to where things stand for us.  I've doubted God's hand in our finances and other things---which I know is not the right place to be in.

This morning I was talking to my SIL when the phone beeped with a call from "Verizon" I answered and it was a recording telling me that we have been getting overcharged and within the next 2-3 billing cycles we should see a credit on our account.  I have no clue how much this credit will be, but I'm so thankful.  The call could not have come in at a better time.  It lifted my spirits and reminded me that God is in control even when I don't "see" it.  I needed that.

Yesterday He used my girlfriend, Sarah and her husband.  I got a package in the mail and it was a beautiful plaque that Chad had made with his CNC machine of all of our names.  It is beautiful and will forever be cherished.  (I'll post a picture tomorrow)

How blessed I am to have a God, family, and friends that love me and are always here for me.  How has God shown Himself to you in your life lately?

A Hundred More Years

I know not everyone loves Francesca Batistelli like I do, but this video and song *might* change your mind a little.  It is just a sweet song and I had the privilege of seeing her in concert in October of 2011 at the Extraordinary Women Conference in Lynchburg, VA.  She was amazing!  :)  Enjoy---l

So.....what did you think????

I love you Grandpa.

I have so much to say but not enough time.  This past week has been a very trying week.  We've had a lot going on with day to day family stuff and little additional stressors here and there.  But last Tuesday my grandpa was put into hospice care.  My dad flew out to Nebraska and was able to spend his last days with him.  Grandpa left this earthly world on Monday December 5th.  I am so thankful that I will be able to see him again, but it is still hard.  I hadn't seen him in years and I had not made as much of an effort on my part to build our relationship.  I had never taken my kids to Nebraska to meet him either.  It sucks.  I've dealt with a lot of guilt over the past week.  I am happy that he isn't in pain anymore.

That helps.

I love you Grandpa.  Forever and always.

I love Fall

I love the crisp mornings of Fall.  I love the beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, and browns of Fall.  I love the crisp smell in the air.  I love waking early in the morning, sitting outside with my coffee and smelling fireplaces warming homes.  I love the kids playing in leaves.  I love sitting in our hot tub in the evenings and allowing the hot water to soothe my day's frustrations away.  I love the smell of apple cider, pumpkin muffins, chili, and corn bread on any given day.

I love snuggles with my babies after they have woken up or played outside and need to get warm.  I love having coffee (decaf) in the cool evenings with my 7 year old and listening to him share his heart.  I love seeing my mums in bloom in my flower beds.  I do not love seeing only half of my mums because the other half has been defeated by a runaway basketball.  I love watching football games---even if my Colts aren't doing too hot this season.  I love throwing a football around with my boys and watching my kids play games of basketball in the driveway.  I love watching the beautiful Egrets and the Blue Herons fly into the marsh and fish for their breakfast.  

I love seeing that this list could last forever, but I must end it so that I can get ready for school and teach the ones I LOVE the most!  Have a fantastic day!

The Love & Respect Experience

I was very excited to get Dr. Emerson Eggerichs book, The Love & Respect Experience in the mail this past week.  It is a 52 week devotional.  The front of the book says, "A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love" and I couldn't say it any better myself.  My husband and I have been talking about finding a devotional for the two of us and this really seems to fit what we have needed.  

The design of the book is to not make the husband or wife uncomfortable at all.  Dr. Eggerichs suggests reading a chapter a week.  In that week you are to meditate on it and allow God to speak to your heart.  In some cases it may be difficult to talk about much more and that's alright.  As you feel comfortable, you should share with your spouse---as a woman, I know I'll probably do more sharing than my husband.  

Some may look at a title such as The Love & Respect Experience and be turned off due to the name, but there is so much to learn from this book!  The Bible tells us that men are to love their wives and in return wives are to respect their husbands.  That has been lost in our culture today.  If a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church then the wife *should* have no problem respecting her husband.


I know in our marriage, there are times when respecting my man is a little difficult, but in the end it's worth it.  There are so many great insights in this book and for couples that want to grow closer to the Lord and closer to one another then pick up this book!!!  And while you are at it, buy one for another couple.

This book was sent to me free of charge from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

My babes

I've decided that as much as I love the banner picture of my babes, it's time to update it with a new one....Considering this pic is about 3 years old.  I can't believe that they are all so big now.  Where does the time go?  It seems like just yesterday they were running around my feet and we were starting our family.

When Brad and I got married, Haeley was 4, Jasmine was 3, and Gabe was 2!!!  Justin and Benjamin weren't even on the horizon.  And now, Haeley is 13, Jasmine is 12, Gabe is 11, Justin is 7, and Benjamin is 6!  As crazy as it may sound, I miss the days of diapers, bottles, middle of the night feedings, and cranky teething babes.  I miss the sweet feel of a babe sleeping on my chest.  I miss the times of simply staring into my baby's face and declaring my love for them.  Now, when I stare at their face they think I'm crazy and they leave before I'm able to profess my deep undying love for them.  :)  

But I love the conversations I get to have with my babes now.  I love Haeley and I talking and growing closer as Mom and daughter.  I love seeing their personalities blossom.  I love seeing them victorious over previous struggles.  I love their creativity and seeing them love on one another.  I love listening to them pray and seeing them learn more about the Lord.  I love seeing them not only learn about the Lord, but putting their faith in Him too.

It's a good life and I don't want to take my babes for granted for one more day.  I want to cherish each moment that I have with them.  The good moments and the ugly ones too.  

The Roller Coaster Begins Again

I think I've mentioned that Brad's job situation has not been great and he's been pursuing other options.  A couple of weeks ago we received a job offer.  Brad and I had discussed this job in length and he accepted the job.  Golly it was a hard decision.  But I know it was the right one and so much has been revealed to me in the past couple days that has further confirmed that it was definitely the right decision.

We closed on our house here January 29th of this past year.  It was quite the adventure us moving from IN to VA.  Brad was in VA and the kids and I were in IN until our house was ready to be put on the market.  The kids and I have been back in VA for about a year now.  We all moved in with Mom and Dad for about 3ish months until we closed on our house and were ready to move in.  We gutted the living room and kitchen and made it beautiful.  We took the carport and turned it into a great garage.  We replaced the wood around our hot tub and were able to get it up and running.

And now all of that will be for another family.  

Brad's new job is in Richmond.  He will be commuting for awhile and spending some of the time at my aunt's house.  I'm very thankful for Aunt E opening up her home and taking him in for this period of time.  In the meantime, we get to put a new roof on our house, put some new windows on and make the big decision---Do we rent or sell?

We love our house and selling would absolutely break our hearts, but we need to be together as a family.  And we need a down payment for another house.  So...here we go again.  Decisions that are hard, separations that are harder and circumstances that sometimes seem so insurmountable that it makes my head spin.  And yet through all of this, it doesn't take too much to cheer me up.  One of the very best cheer ups.......This:

Without a doubt this face, those little eyes, those arms that wrap so tightly around my neck, and that sweet little boy can cheer me up in an instant.  My babies will help me get through this time.  We will hold tightly to each other once more.  We will grow closer as a family and we will start over in a new place again.