My silly boys and all the joys....

Joel is enjoying whipped cream and strawberries

Clark and his sily Cheeto face

My boys bring me so much joy and laughter.  I can't imagine life without them.  And I  know they have changed me forever.  They have taught me love, hope, and life.  Thank you God for blessing me with so much more than I deserve.

Because of His reputation.....a list of prayer requests

Disclaimer:  I DID start this blog to keep grandparents and faraway friends and family in the loop, but it's turned out to be also a place to ponder spiritual things as well.

Most know the passage in Luke about asking, knocking, and seeking.  Well today I read the before and after and decided to do something radical with God by putting His Word to the test.

Luke 11:8-13
(Jesus is telling a story about a hungry friend knocking a man's door at night) But I tell you this--though your friend won't do it as a friend, he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won't be damaged.  And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives, Everyone who seeks finds.  And the door is opened to everyone who knocks......
how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.

I had to wonder what is Jesus trying to say with the story connected to the ask, seek, knock.  Is he saying God is like the man who will get up and give you what you want so His reputation will shine and His name be glorified???

I have been asking God for a few things lately, and I decided to claim them in the light of Luke 11. My hope is His reputation will shine as God answers my heart's requests.

Here's my on going prayer request list:
1. My sons will be passionately in love with God and His Word and marry Godly women.  They would also be the best of friends all of their days.
2. My family would put Jesus in the center resulting in lifting up Christ so the whole world can see.
3. My husband will find God's perfect will for his life and lead our family.
4. We will be finacially responsible, get out of debt, and stay out.
5. My mother-in-law and father-in-law will live long, healthy, happy lives, and we'll spend much more time together.
6. My mom, dad, sister, and her children will one day know the depth of God's love and be changed eternally by His grace.
7. We will be able to accept and delight in the number of children God will/has blessed us with.
8. If homeschooling is God's will for us, then He will give me other amazing families to work together as a team.
7. Michael and I will hunger for God's word and daily commit to spending time in the Bible.

So here I am like that man who was hungry knocking at his friend's door.  I am filled with excited anticipation to see what God will do.   I can't wait to shout to the world....LOOK WHAT HE DID BECAUSE OF HIS GOODNESS AND PERFECT REPUTATION!

A Blessed Easter Weekend

We had a glorious and blessed Easter weekend with gorgeous weather.

On Friday, my friend, our four kids, and I enjoyed delicious, hot cinnamon rolls from a quaint local resturant, and then we went on a hike along a roaring white water creek.
Our kids enjoyed throwing rocks and getting dirty.  It was heart warming to see our boys working together and playing together.  I must stay viligent to always pray my boys have good friends all of their days!

Saturday was a blur, but Sunday was memorable.  We went to two church services, and then we all took a nap.  After the nap, we meet up with a couple of families to celebrate Easter and hunt for eggs.

Our Big Cheese

Here's a picture of Joel in his pajamas, wearing his rainboots, and eating a huge chuck of cheese.  This is so Joel...silly and eating something.

Did the Easter Bunny Come Early And Leave Goose Eggs?

Both of our boys got goose eggs this weekend!  We were out enjoying the beautiful weather, and they both

 fell and hit their heads on the deck. 

 It's hard to see Joel's, but it was pretty big.

He's getting better with all his illnesses, but he's still not sleeping.  I'm going to take him to the doctor in the morning to get  help. Otherwise I'm going to go insane with the lack of sleep. I just hope the doctor's office doesn't call child protective services on me when they see that my kids are black and blue.

Playing Tag with Sara

Sara tagged me and I'm going to half way play.  I just can't make myself tag anyone else.  I can't forward emails or texts either.  I'm not much of a team player; sorry Sara.  (a fault of mine I know).


Here's a picture from my first photo file #10.
Here I am in 2002 at the young age of 24 working in the yard of our first house in Allen, TX.  I was so excited about having a house and gardening.  I was out there every second I could if just to pick out the weeds by hand.  In the background is Michael's old car which we still miss: 1994 Ford Probe.  Wow, I almost forgot I wore glasses back then.

This is NOT our lucky day, week, month...

Clark's St. Patrick Day's craft

    I'm praying this verse for my family as we struggle with a very "unlucky" month.  (btw..I don't believe in luck.)

2010 has been hard on us, but this week as been the hardest by far.  In the past seven days, Joel had a high fever for two days and was diagnosed with an ear infection.  Then he developed thrush in his mouth and stopped eating and drinking because of the big sores and lesions.  Then a stomach virus hit our family and nearly destroyed us.   We each suffered for 4 days with symptoms and fatigue.  Then yesterday Joel broke out in a raised red rash.  The diagnois: hives from a reaction to the antibotics.   And last night, he couldn't sleep and that means his mommy and daddy didn't either.

My poor baby has had a bad cold, ear infection, thrush, stomach virus, and hives all in seven days.

Clark's hanging in there.  He hasn't eaten much in five days and has a mysterious fever for several days.  He's my very grumpy artist.

If I do find a leprechaun today, I might just forgo the gold and ask for a well kids, a big tv for Michael,  and a mommy spa day. ;-)

I have found a gold mine!

I just have to say that God is so good to bless us with friendship.  I love family.  I love my husband, and I love my kids.  BUT there is something so different and golden about Godly girl friends.  

Last year after a women's conference, I was approached by two ladies (separately) who felt God calling them into a deeper relationship with Him and felt the need for accountability and encouragement.  Thus was the beginning of a tri-friendship that would take me through the depths of discouragement and struggle and to the tops of glory and blessing. 

We meet weekly (if possible) to hold each other accountable to stay in God's Word, to confess our struggles, and to pray for each other.  It is so refreshing to be real and open with these ladies who I know will love me without questions when they see the "ugly me" and who care about my daily struggles and joys.

I decided to post this to encourage others to seek out the same accountablity.  I have found a gold mine, and just couldn't just keep it to myself.

My favorite verse of the day:

May the Lord bless you and protect you.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord show you his favor and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Gotta Love Free Family Night at the CDM

We took advantage of the free monthly family night at the Creative Discovery museum in February.  That's one of the reasons why we LOVE Chattanooga!

Here's our little paleontologist digging in the dinosaur fossil sand box.

I just love this picture of Joel.  This is what I get to see everyday. 

 I could just eat him up!

The boys really enjoyed the music room.

Here's Clark playing peekaboo!

Hooray for Potties

All day Friday I had a little voice in my head warning me over and over about our septic system.  Without reason or even the faintest clue to a problem, I just went on with my day.  By Friday 4 pm, I had had enough, and so I decided to go inspect.  We had no clue where the septic system was or how is works, but at least I had to try.  As I walked into the backyard, IT FOUND ME.

The unmistakable smell of sewage hit my nostrils and was pouring into our yard.  Normally a high stress person like me would go into hesteria over this.  I didn't panic because I had already been told about this problem from my little voice.

I told Michael when he got home from work, called a plumber, and got a $4100 quote for a repair!!!!!!!

EEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!! is what I wanted to say, but I chose joy over freaking out.  Deep breaths and praising God for our home and our convenient toliets, we told the man we would have to sleep on it and sell a kidney (hee hee).

Then on Saturday, we ripped up our deck which was on top on the  tank and started digging.  As I was scooping up dirt on top of the lid, and I thought I pulled up a rock.  Well no, it was a part of the lid to the tank.  And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a full view of the inside of our cess pool. Even as a plumber's daughter, I wasn't prepared for seeing or smelling that.

To wrap up this stinky tale and give praise to God,  another guy quoted us $60 to repair it.  We'll see what happens in then end, but whatever God is SO GOOD to me.  And this WILL NOT

 steal my joy and peace.

Here's my awesome husband digging around it.  He worked from 9:00am when it was 34 degrees to 7:00 pm on this thing.  He's has lots of battle scars to prove his valor.

Here's pictures of my cutie pies. They played outside while we worked all day.  I sure do love my

kids.  

PS I finally cost us $180 for the repair and $200 for the pumping.  Our babysitting money

 covered it!!