Thankful

So much to be thankful for....

I am thankful that God has placed His protective hand over me and my boys this week.  There have been lots of break ins in and around our neigborhood this week.

I am thankful that Carter passed his hearing test on Tuesday.  We do not have to go back unless we are concerned something could be wrong.

I am thankful that God kept Colin and his teammates safe tonight in their make up game.  I'm thankful they had fun and did their best.  Just so you know the Cubbies lost, but the kids were still awesome!  We are blessed to have a team full of fun kids and helpful parents.

I am thankful that my wonderful husband is on his way home as I type.  I can't wait to see him!

Thank you,  Lord for blessing me in so many ways!

Jeff's AT, Visitors, Phone Calls, the Tooth Fairy, Wild Kids, and Bouncy Balls

Jeffrey has been spending a lot of time in class.  Yesterday they learned about surviving a Humvee rollover and today they learned about suicide prevention.  I think the sitting in class is wearing him out.  He's not a sit around type of guy!  Me and the boys are ready for him to come home....counting down the days.  He has not blogged about his experience yet, but I'm sure he will soon.  Tonight he has gone out to eat with some of the other Chaplain candidates. 

We've had some visitors the past couple of days. Angie and Autumn came by Sunday to see the boys (when you are mom, you don't get visitors), but Carter slept the whole time.  It was Autumn's first time to see Carter.  Today we had a full house.  Sue stopped by for fresh coffee after work (what is a daughter in law for?) and Edie and Lauren came by.  The boys were hog wild. Oh, my gosh!!!!!  Lately, Colin has been showing off when people come over.  It is not like him.  When I talked to him about how it gets annoying and grown ups are not impressed by it, he said, "Haven't we had this conversation before?"  After they all left, Jeffrey's friend Dwight called and the boys got wilder. Instead of eating their supper, they were chasing each other: over the treadmill and exercise bench, across the couch, and around the train table.  At one point of the night Colin and Carson were tugging on each other and Carson fell into the cabinet. Whew! 

Dan and Gennie got Carson a bouncy ball for his birthday.  Birbie put air in it this evening and Colin and Carson  think it is a weapon.  I've already threatened to pop it.  Colin told me I would get in trouble. I highly doubt that.  He's going to break his tailbone if he isn't careful.  Carson isn't quite big enough for it.  He has to have me bounce him on it. My arms are worn out.

Last night, we got a visit from the Tooth Fairy.  Unfortunately, we still have the Nanny McPhee tooth.  Maybe the $20 my mom gave Colin will encourage him to work on it. 

OK, the bouncy ball is in time out. It just flew across the room and hit Colin in the head.  Thanks Dan and Gennie!!!!

 

Another Answered Prayer

I am praising God again today.....

Carter went for his hearing screening (he failed the initial screening).  After lots of tests today, we learned that there is nothing wrong with his hearing!  Thank you, Lord!!!

Not Me Monday

Another Not Me, Monday! If you like mine, head over to MckMama's page to read more. Just the chance to playoff all the crazy stuff that did or did not happen the past week.




While at Colin's baseball game recently, a 3 year old did not walk up to my dad and say, "Hi, Santa!" My dad did not proceed to ask him what he wanted to for Christmas. Later, the little boy did not ask "Santa" to blow bubbles with him!

This past week, we were not on a mission to find Carson a pair of shoes that had fire on them to make him run fast. We did not search all over Bowling Green for the perfect pair, finally finding them at Target. My children never have odd requests and would be happy in any pair of tennis shoes.

The other night as I was doing dishes, Colin did not walk into the kitchen and say, "Look at me, Mama." When I turned around, I did not see that he was wearing his old Chicago Cubs bib from 8 years ago that has been handed down to both of his brothers. My husband would never take a picture of our children doing something so silly either.

Before going out to eat for Sue's birthday, I did not give my kids Hershey bars and their choice of a Cherry Coke or Mountain Dew. I'd never let them spoil their dinner with such junk! I wonder why Carson was sprinting around the dinner table????

Sunday, Carson did not come to me complaining about his big brother. You see, my boys get along perfectly. When I asked Carson what he was covered in, he did not reply, "Donut." It seems that Colin did not decide to wipe the sticky donut glaze all over his little brother's back and arms instead of a napkin. I've taught my kids better than that.

I also have not begun dreaming about Colin's loose teeth again. I am totally not bothered by him not wanting to brush in fear of his loose teeth hurting or worse yet, falling out. I have not nicknamed one of the loose teeth "the Nanny McPhee tooth."

This recent conversation was not overheard from our neighbor's house when we arrived at home one evening:

Child: "Daddy, you need to come in the house."

Child's Daddy: "You need to go in the house and leave me alone."

Our neighbor's visitors would never talk to their children that way. We live in a completely normal neighborhood. With that being said, Sunday morning, I did not hear loud music coming from our neighbor's house. They live across the street and would never turn the music up loud enough for me to hear it in every room of my house.

Speaking of neighbors....as I stood at the kitchen sink, I did not see some random kid run toward my backyard. Later, I did not see him playing in our pine trees and then walk across the street to the loud neighbor's house. Ten minutes later, him, his cousin, and mom did not walk across my front yard less than 10 feet from our open windows. (Post about Boundaries to come soon) My neighbors are much more courteous than that.

Is it really official?

I absolutely can NOT believe that Jeffrey is gone to his first Army Chaplain training!  He has worked so long and so hard on getting this far, and I can't believe it is finally here.  This week will be a very small taste of what is to come this summer.  This summer will be like when he was gone to Japan, only this time he will be on the same continent!  I really hope Jeffrey has a good week.  The preparations have been terrible. He wasn't getting emails and then information was being changed at the last minute.  Whew!  As far as packing, he had no idea what to take.  I'm sure he will find out soon enough if he brought the right stuff!  Me and the 3 C's will be fine.  Mom has volunteered to take Colin to school in the mornings so I don't have to wake the little one's.  Sue and Birbie are next door, and everyone we know has offered to help in anyway they can.  We are blessed with such a wonderful support system.


I have a couple of prayer requests to share with you:
Please pray for Carter.  We go Tuesday to have his hearing retested because he failed the initial screening in the hospital.  He seems to hear just fine, but he still must be retested.

Please pray for one of our elementary teachers who found out recently that she has breast cancer.  She will be having her breast removed this next week I believe. 

Please pray for my grandmother. She fell out of the bed recently at the nursing home and hurt her back pretty badly.  She has had a really hard time. 

Please pray for my boys, that they will have a good week and not be "off" due to their daddy being gone.  They usually do well when he is gone, but before it has been for work.  I don't want them to think that he is in any danger. I'm not sure how much Colin understands about what is going on this week. 


Baseball was cancelled this morning due to the weather.  Colin is supposed to play again on Monday, but I think it is supposed to rain then too.  I hate for Coach Jeff to miss his games, so I was glad today's was cancelled. 




I have to gripe for a minute about something totally different.  Last night, we took the family to Wal-Mart to stock up for the week (I do not want to take 3 kids to Wal-Mart by myself!).  Anyway,  I have always used the same baby formula with all the boys.  I recently started using the samples sent to me by another company.  Last night I was looking over my coupons and the selection. I decided to purchase this one particular brand for 3 reasons: 1) it is the sample pack we are currently using and 2) it was the largest container of any of the brands, and 3)I had a coupon.  Well, when we checked out and presented the coupon (which is like a check), the coupon was denied!  Can you believe it?!?  The lady said it wasn't our fault, that the company has so many of those coupons out and not enough money in their account to cover them all.  WHAT??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS THAT???? Needless to say, when I got home, I emailed the company.  I guess that's what I get for trying something new!

OK, I just heard an "OW!" and "HEY! DON'T PINCH ME!" so I guess that means I'm done blogging for now!

Thankful Thursday

Today, like everyday, I have a lot to be thankful for.

I am thankful that my six week postpartum check up went well.  Looks like I won't be seeing my doctor for another year,  odd since we've seen each other at least once a month since last June for my yearly check up.

I am thankful that Jeffrey will be going to AT in a few days. I'm not thankful that he will be gone, just that things are getting started for him.  I will miss him.  It will be an experience to get all 3 boys up and out of the house to get Colin to school next week.  I'll just have to be sure I don't fall asleep on the couch after Carter's middle of the night feeding!

I am thankful my children are healthy.  They are getting so big.  Colin of course thinks he is grown. Carson is really getting into his letters and numbers. Last night he actually wrote THANK YOU on a thank you note I am sending out.  Carter, oh gosh!  I can't believe he is six weeks old tomorrow.  The nurses and receptionists had a fit over him.  They took care of us for 9 months, so I know they were excited to see him. 

I am thankful that I got to spend the day with Jeffrey, Carson, and Carter. I did miss Colin (he had to go to school), but I did bring him home a chocolate chip cookie and new flip flops!

I am thankful for moments like these.....

Time to Pray to the One

The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful. James 5:16 Holman CSB

I think prayer is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.  It is the chance to talk to him directly and bring our needs before him.  I like that directly part. 

I don't know a whole lot about other religions, but several years ago, I was working with a student who was writing about her Sunday School teacher.  She told me that she had taught her to pray and I had her explain that to me.  This little girl said that they are Catholic and they pray to the saints. The saints carry your requests on a golden platter to the Lord.  Like I said, I don't know a lot about other religions, so if that is wrong, sorry. That's just what the nine year old told me.

I like the golden platter part. You know, to think that my thoughts and requests are worthy of a golden platter. Oooh!  But I really wasn't crazy about the praying to the saints and having to depend on them to deliver my requests.  What if they got busy or worst yet, what if they dropped the platter and my request rolled under the throne and was never heard and seen again?

I love the fact that in Baptist belief, we pray to the One who will be doing the work. We pray to God.  And you know what? He tells us to.

Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."

Psalm 50:15 declares, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

Hebrews 4:16 commands, "Let us therefore come boldy to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

I am thankful for the fact that God wants me to come to Him. He wants me to lay it all out before his throne, not holding anything back (He knows it all anyway).  I am thankful that nothing is too big or too small for Him.  He wants me to pray about everything, all the time.

That last part is where I have a problem....all the time.

I told God last night, "Father, I am sorry that I haven't been spending as much time with You as I need to. I have no excuses. Please forgive me."

I could tell God that I am busy with a newborn. I am busy with a four year old and a seven year old. I am busy trying to manage a home, 3 kids, a husband, and 2 pets. I'm trying to get to baseball practice, wash and make more bottles, do laundry, load and unload the dishwasher, shower and brush my teeth.  But He knows that. It is not an excuse.  It is a reason for me to get my priorities in line.  Is it easy? NO!  It is difficult. BUT since I have been praying about it, God is helping me.  I am finding more time throughtout the day to spend with him.  He is allowing my 1 month old to be a pretty good sleeper so I can get in some good praying time in the mornings. He is allowing my energy to strengthen so I don't conk out at bedtime.  He is doing His part in helping me get my priorities straight. I just have to recongnize that and go with it.

I find that if I spend less time in prayer, my world seems a little more chaotic.  I am frantic and easily angered. I make poor decisions and am less pleasant.  I don't have a peace about me.  My prayers are rushed and less specific.  However, when I do spend quality time in prayer (using the time God has granted me to pray specifically), I am renewed. Peace reenters my life.  I am able to deal with this chaos around me better. 


"The more complicated life becomes, the more we need to quiet our souls before God." Elisabeth Elliot

Not Me, Monday #2

“Not Me! Monday” is the brainchild of MckMama where we can pretend that some crazy things did not happen the past week. I always enjoy reading what did not happen to others, so I hope you enjoy reading what did not happen to me


This past week I did not clean out the litter box just to find a piece of yellow ribbon sticking out of the cat poop.  My cat would never eat anything other than his Purina. 

Furthermore, my 4 year old did not decide to retire from T-Ball after 2 practices. Can you count it as two when we just showed up for the last one?  Anyway. My children always finish what they start.

After quitting retiring from t-ball, my son and I did not make our way to the park for a nailbiting Pee Wee baseball game where Colin was playing.  This mom was not on the edge of her seat when we started the fifth inning with a score of 12 - 13.  I most certainly did not hop up off the bleachers to watch the final play of the game when the Cubs won.  I would never get that excited over a Pee Wee game.

On Saturday, my husband suggested we drive over to Fort Campbell so he could pick up some things for his AT training next week. This would allow us some good family time together as well.  This was supposed to have been a "three hour tour" but did not turn in to a 6 hour ordeal. Our car battery (the original) did not die in the parking lot of the US Calvalry store. We did not wait for his parents to come help us out.  If we did, they would not have been at a birthday party in Bowling Green. You do the math! I most certainly did not say a word or not look at my husband for the first 30 minutes or so.I would have laughed it off.  Our oldest child would not have been bored and hungry, our middle child would not have said, "So, how's it going?" and our youngest would not have slept through the whole thing, only waking at Advanced Auto Parts for a diaper change and bottle.

After church on Sunday, Carter and I did not take a four hour nap, waking up in enough time to see we would be missing the evening service.  I would never sleep away an afternoon, not knowing what my husband and other kids were doing.

Now, for our top headlines

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST
Please pray for Robert. He is a youth at our church and has been my student worker for two years.  Robert has a tumor on his face (the jaw area) and will be going to have tests run soon.  This isn't the first time. He had surgery for this several years ago.  Robert is a good kid and we think a lot of him.  Please pray for his healing.


In sports.....It is here....

Baseball season.

HOLY COW! CUBS WIN!

Colin had his first game last night. Whew! Things were SO TENSE! The score was Cardinals 12, Cubs 13!  CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! (any Harry Caray fans out there?) It was a real nail biter! Colin started out playing on first base and ended playing second. We had a new player (one team got split up due to so many quitting). Coach Jeff tried him on first and he did a good job (evidently that is his usual spot).  The Cubs hit the ball well. We've got two girls on the team and they did an awesome job. They've improved so much since last year. Colin had some good hits as well.  Coach Jeff and I were really proud of him.

I am not in the dugout this year. We have a great team of parents and almost all the dads are in the dugout or hanging around there. The moms are in the crowd cheering on the team.

Carson's team is was is was (not sure yet) the Marlins.  I think he quit last night.  My dad and I took him to practice, but he wouldn't even get out on the field.  His first game is supposed to be tomorrow, but it looks like he won't be on the roster. Carson is just totally not into playing.  He is not as mature as Colin.  Yeah, I know he is only four, but Colin knew he wanted to play and he wanted to get out on the field and do what he was supposed to when he played t-ball. Carson on the other hand has no interest. He has crazy energy, but right now, sports don't interest him.  He wasn't too into soccer last year, so I kind of expected this.  Basically, we just overpaid for a Marlin's shirt and cap, but I can handle that. 

In other news.........

It looks like Jeffrey will be going to AT in a couple of weeks.  He is waiting for his orders and travel arrangements.  We are pretty clueless about all this.  He can't seem to get a straight answer about anything. You'd think it would all be pretty clear, but it isn't.  Kind of frustrating sometimes. I'm glad he will have the chance to be in Ft. Jackson before his training this summer.  He will have a heads up on things (hopefully).  The initial cost of all this blows my mind.  The list of stuff he must purchase out of pocket (uniforms included) is crazy.  We are afraid he will get all of this and then they will change over to the new uniform design shortly. 


In education....
Colin is on a field trip with his class today. They are headed to the National Corvette Museum.  He was pretty excited about it this morning when he left for school.  I'm sure they will have great time. 

We have NO PLANS for tonight! WUHU!  No baseball, no parties, no nothing.  We are hoping to get to Chaney's Dairy Barn and the park before the rain comes.

A Good Life

Yesterday, Carter was one month old. I can't believe it! He is growing so big and is totally loved by his big brothers. The new of him has not worn off! Over the weekend, he had his first visit to Chaney's Dairy Barn. As I watched Colin and Carson eat their Blue Moon Ice Cream, I knew it wouldn't be long until Carter would be joining them.

I am thankful each day for my sons. They are all so very different and I cherish those differences. Last night as Colin and I prayed together, he asked God to help him and his brothers "live a good life." Needless to say, I had to catch my breath. To add to his prayer, I ask that they are "doers of the word and not hearers only." (James 1:22 Holman CSB). If they are, they will most certainly live a good life.

My First Not Me! Monday Post

“Not Me! Monday” is the brainchild of MckMama where we can pretend that some crazy things did not happen the past week. I always enjoy reading what did not happen to others, so I hope you enjoy reading what did not happen to me in my first “Not Me! Monday” post.




I was not excited that this past week was Spring Break and that my kids were able to stay home with me. As a teacher, I know how important going to school is both academically and socially, so I would never be excited about the fact that my kids didn’t have to go.

I was not told my four year old that I was too old to play on his new airplane. My children are polite and would always find the proper way of telling me I should do (or not do) something.

As my husband preached on Wednesday night, I was not distracted by screaming coming from the church nursery. I didn’t stretch my ears to find out which four year old was yelling. I did not recognize the scream of my own child and have to leave church with infant in arms to shut the door behind me to find my screaming child. My child was not in the arms of my best friend screaming, “I WANT MY MAMA!” I did not take the crying child back to church with me and he did not fall asleep and start snoring while his daddy preached. My children always sit up and act right in church. I did not make my four year old call my best friend the next day to apologize, because my kids would never act out when they didn’t get their way.

My seven year old did not wake up the other morning with white “gook” in his hair. He did not put a glow in the dark star with putty on it in his hair at bed time. First of all, my kids always go right to sleep at bed time. They never stay up playing or watching movies until the wee hours of the morning. It did not take an hour for my child to finally tell me what the “gook” was. It also did not take washing this child’s hair 3 times to get all the “gook” out of his hair. I was never tempted to call Paw Paw to him to the barber shop to get it cut out.

As for me, I most certainly did not slack on getting the laundry done this week. I always get it finished in record time and never leave it on the couch. I would never get distracted by my children and leave the clean laundry piled up. If you came to my house today, you would not see laundry, clean or dirty, anywhere.

Last night, my children and I most certainly did not giggle like crazy at the sound of our 1 month old passing gas. My seven year old did not post about Mr. Tootalot on his blog.

I most certainly am not looking forward to another crazy week that could turn in to another Not Me! Post.

A Cheerful Receiver?

I love helping others out and doing things for others to enjoy. I'd like to think that I am a pretty good giver to my church, God, and others, even though I'm sure I could do more. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that "God loves a cheerful giver." But did you know that He wants us to be cheerful receivers as well?

In Matthew 10:8, Jesus commands, "Freely you have received, freely give." I think for many it is more difficult to receive. The first thing we must do to become a Child of God is to humble ourselves to admit we are sinners and receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. After that, there are many other things that we must humble ourselves to receive.

Have you ever said.....
If you need anything, don't hesitate to call.
If I can do anything at all for you, please let me know.
If you need something, call me.

How many times were you actually called on?

Has anyone ever said those things to you?

How many times did you actually call someone to help you?

When we came home with Carter, lots of people told us that if they could do anything (babysit, cook, clean, shop for us), then we shouldn't hesitate to let them know. We knew they meant that, but we never asked anyone for anything. There were a few people that just DID IT. They didn't give us an option of asking for help. We would get a phone call: I'm bringing you supper, so when would be a good night for me to do that?

When Jeffrey goes out of town, people always volunteer to do things for us or lay the offer of "Call if you need anything" out there. We know they mean it, but how many times do we take them up on that offer? Close to never.

Its not that we don't appreciate people saying and doing things, its usually that we just do it ourselves even though it really would help out to ask for help. For whatever reason, we don't ask for help. For me, I am pretty independent. I like to do things on my own, so I don't ask for help. For some, they would rather die than humble themselves and ask for help. After all, to receive help, you have to admit that you need it. We usually hate to admit anything negative about ourselves. However, asking for help is never negative (unless you are just lazy).

Because of our independance or failure to humble ourselves, we are taking away from someone being able to use their gifts. Because we won't allow ourselves to receive, they are not being allowed to give. Its a two way street: giving is a ministry and so is receiving.

Sure it would be easier if everyone was just a "doer" instead of an "offerer." BUT when would we humble ourselves? We wouldn't.

I remember teaching Sunday School one day about this very topic. You see, in our church, we wave so many talented people. Leslie and Hilarie work with the children in music and drama. Adam is a genius when it comes to technology. Steve knows everything there is to know about everything (we think so anyway). Ms. Joan creates some amazing things with her sewing machine and stitching. Leslie is a great listener and give good advice (what's a lawyer for?) and is very talented in music.

Now what if when Ms. Joan asked us about making gifts for our boys and we said, "Oh, you don't have to do that. Please don't waste your time on us"? She would probably feel that we didn't appreciate her gesture and didn't like her work.

What if Adam volunteered to video tape Jeffrey's oath of office ceremony and we told him we would find someone else because we didn't want to tie him down on a Saturday night? He would probably think we were afraid a teenager couldn't handle the job.

What if we refused to let Cindy, Teresa, and June cook for us when they called and said, "We are bringing food. When would be a good time?"

We would be denying people to give if we refused to receive. God has given us different talents and gifts. Denying people the ministry of using those gifts and talents is wrong. We should always try to allow people to give by being cheerful receivers.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for creating us all so very differently. Lord, you love a cheerful giver just like you love a cheerful receiver. Please allow us to humble ourselves in order to give others the chance to use their talents and gifts. Amen.

Recent pictures - some of my favorites

Boys with attitude

My family after church

Me and Carter - he did so well on his first day at church

Boy, oh boy! I'm surrounded by boys!

At Last! Colin finally found the prize egg.

PawPaw and Edie

Sleeping

The big boys dyed eggs with their daddy

Having tummy time on the blanket made by the kids at church

Wide awake!

Survey Says.....

I was watching Family Feud the other day and the question was:

What do parents like to watch their baby do? Of course I am yelling at the TV because these contestants are giving all kinds of crazy answers.

Survey Says.....

Sleep

What in the world????

Can you guess which child this is and what is in his hair?

Joy

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ." Philippians 3:8 NIV


I have a serious question to ask. Do you know my Jesus? No wait. Are you intimate with my Jesus?


You see, there was a time in my life that I knew about Him, but I didn't know Him. After I came to know Jesus, the neverending journey for intimacy began.


Now, I'm not here to judge anyone, but I do want to make people think (my kids at school hate that!). I know people that say they are Christians, yet, their lives are filled with worry and anger. They have no joy in their lives. I know others that say they are Christians and everything about them is a shining example of love and joy. Whether they are suffering or not, they strive to show they are intimate with Jesus.



By now, you know that I am not perfect and will never claim to be.
I am human.
I get upset and sometimes furiously angry.
I get disappointed and feel let down sometimes.
I have my struggles and my flaws.


Yet, I don't want those to rule my life. I want to experience the full JOY of being INTIMATE with my JESUS. If I allow bitterness or anger to control me, I can't experience that. If I allow my disappointment and my struggles and flaws to control me, I can't experience that intimacy.


Over and over again, I read that I may be the only Christian that someone will ever meet. What seed shall I plant then? Hopefully a seed that will bloom into an intimate relationship with my Jesus. If that person meets me and I am bitter, angry, and negative, what seed am I planting then? More than likely, not a seed that will lead that person to Jesus.


With today being Carson's birthday, I want him (and all of us) to know that life is a series of choices. The most important choice is whether or not we choose to believe in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you haven't chosen to believe that, I pray that you do. I pray that you would open your heart to Him and surrender you life to Him. Then think about how many decisions you have to make throughout your day (some little, some big, but all important). Because I have been transformed by the love of Jesus, I have every reason to make wise choices.

Remember my post At the End of the Day? We have to remember that at the end of the day, we should be able to look back and not have any regrets, that we made the most out of the day that our Father blessed us with and that He is proud of us. We have to make the choice at the beginning of each day to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Sometimes, my boys don't like their punishments for disobeying or breaking a rule so we talk about making better choices. As adults, we have to ask ourselves if we made the best choices for that day because we have to live with our consequences and we may not like them. In the times I have not been happy with the outcome of my choices, it was because I seeked my selfish needs and desires and not His kingdom and righteousness.

I want to be a woman filled with the JOY of being INTIMATE with JESUS. Don't you?

Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you so much for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me this day, the gifts of life, health, and family. I thank you for allowing me to be the mother of these 3 precious boys. Lord, as their mother, I have to make choices not only for myself, but also for them. I ask you, Father, to help me consider your will in all choices that I have to make each day. I want my life to glorify you, Lord. I want my children to see you in me. I want to plant a seed within them so that as they grow, they will seek you in all they do.

Lord, I thank you for the opportunity and ability to keep up with this blog. I pray that it would be a blessing to all that read. Father, if there is anyone who frequents this site that does not know you, I ask that you reveal yourself to that individual and that she would open her heart to you. Lord, if there is someone that knows you, but that is not intimate with you, I pray they would seek that intimacy.

Lord, thank you for all you do for us. Thank you for loving us and providing for us only they way you can, as we are so undeserving. Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation through your son, Jesus Christ, that because we choose to believe in the miracle of is death, burial, and resurrection, that we may have eternal life. Amen.

Happy 4th Birthday, Carson!

Oh, My! I can't believe you are 4 YEARS OLD today!!!! Where has the time gone????



I am so proud to say that you are my blessing. I can't believe how different you are from your brothers. I hope you have a wonderful birthday (even though you aren't feeling well).



Happy Birthday, Iley Carson!!!! We love you.

Mama, Daddy, Colin, and Carter








We celebrated Carson's birthday Saturday evening with family. He had a big day! Earlier in the day, Carson went to Kylie's party and she got to come to his.

Carson's Mario cake.

Carson and Kylie playing on his new airplane.

As you can see, parties at our house get a little wild!

Fortunately, most of the stamper ink came off in the bath before church the next morning.

This is How We Roll

It is kind of hard to see, but the onsie says, "I roll with Jesus."

He is Risen!

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Luke 24:1-12

Jesus Loves Me

This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”

And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me."


Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.


Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.


Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.


Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“ They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots."

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:

THIS IS JESUS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.


Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.


Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.


On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.' Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night' and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
Matthew 27 NKJV

The story does not end here however........