I'm Not Crazy

Ok, so maybe I am a little bit.

Or a lot.

Alright, stop yelling at me!

I admit it, I am crazy!

I mean I must be.

I like my kids.

I enjoy being around my kids.

I have fun with my kids.

I go to kids camp with my kids......

And here is where the crazy comes in....

plus 40 more kids.

I suppose that on some level I am still a kid at heart. What other reason could there be for going to stay in a large cabin with 12 other adults and 41 kids?

And here's the kicker...the really crazy part...

Actually enjoying it and going back year after year!

Church Kids Camp 2011-Kickin' it Old School, was a great success and a lot of fun.

My kids only go for 4 days/3 nights, but I tell you we pack a lot into that time.

We take kids from our church and combine with another church to have about 40 kids.

I absolutely love the format we do camp in. We stay at a YMCA camp, and we all stay in one big "cabin". Girls upstairs, boys downstairs, with a large common area downstairs as well.

I love the camaraderie that is built doing it this way and all staying together.

Is it loud? Yes.

Is it crazy? Yes.

Do adults sometimes want to give some kids a round house kick? Yes.

But wow, the fun!

We have our own chapel time, pool time, lake time, canoe time, game time, eating time, movie time, craft time, small group time, devotion time, and for a few precious hours we even have sleep time.

So why do I go? Why do I do this camp thing?

Because I love investing that time into the lives of my kids and the 39 other kids that are there.

One of the things I have always tried to do as a parent is to be an intentional parent.

I want my kids to grow up knowing that they can trust me, count on me, have fun with me, be sad with me, be mad at me, forgive me, learn with me, grow with me, serve with me, and genuinely navigate this life with me.

To me, part of doing all of those things involves me really knowing my kids.

I love watching my kids grow and learn and seeing them develop in all areas of their lives.

I love watching them grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

I firmly believe, and as the kids get older I believe this even more, that parents are God's sanctification tool for our kids. And really vica versa. Nothing sanctifies me more than my marriage and kids.

I believe that God gives us many unique opportunities in our parenting to point our kids hearts towards Christ, towards their need for the gospel.

These are beautiful moments. Sometimes they don't feel very profound or obvious, but then other times, they seem huge and the weight of them takes your breath away.

Both are beautiful in their own right.

And because of this, I go to kids camp.

I don't go to check up on my kids or make sure they are safe.

As a matter of fact, I make a very concerted effort to not "parent" them when we are there.

I don't remind them to pick up their clothes, or brush their teeth, or put on sunblock.

I treat all the kids at camp the same and lump my kids right in their with them.

I DO go though because I love to see my kids in action.

This is one of the ways that I really get to know my kids.

I see their strengths and their weaknesses.

I see what makes them tick.

I see where they are spiritually.

I see where the rubber is meeting the road.

And in seeing these things, I better know how to relate, deal, train, do life, with these kids God has given me.

Every year that I have gone to camp with one or both of the kids, God has given me great opportunities.

One, there is always the opportunity to laugh! We laugh a lot at kids camp!

I love that thus far the kids love me to be there and aren't embarrassed by me.

They think I am crazy and they love to laugh with me.

I loved this year having Lana and her friends wanting me to sit with them at every meal and calling us the cool table.

I loved being summoned up to a room of 12 girls to tell stories to them and have them make up and tell me silly stories in return.

I loved being swarmed in the pool by kids wanting to play and have fun.

I loved comforting kids by making them laugh when they thought they were hurt.

I loved playing games with the kids and ok-yes- I enjoyed beating them ;)

I loved doing all those things not only with my kids but the other kids.

In just a few short years these kids may all grow into teenagers and think I am the biggest dork out there. But I hope and pray that the investment I have tried to make in their lives will keep the doors open with them.

I don't claim to nor think that I have all the answers. I don't think I am particularly good at giving advice. But I do pray that spending these years with all these kids just doing something as simple as loving them through laughter, will keep the lines of communication open and that through all of it they will see that I love them and want to see them grow in their relationships with the Lord.

Number 2-which really I should list as number 1- in my list of awesome camp opportunities, is the talks we get to have about God and growing in Him.

I don't want my kids to grow up thinking that our Christian walk is this easy walk in the park/go to camp, deal. I want to see them struggle. I don't like to see them struggle, but we would all be missing out if their were no struggle. They need to wrestle with their sin. They need me to help wrestle it with them. Believe me, being a sleep deprived & competitive kid at camp will bring that wrestling match up quick fast and in a hurry. And this is where God gives me another one of His divinely appointed parenting sanctification moments.

Talking through hurt, disappointment, confusion of feelings, misplaced anger, and helping my child see through the lens of the Gospel in all of those emotions...well, its better than all the laughter and the silliness of camp.

This is why I go. To allow God to sanctify me and my children.

I am fully aware when I am pointing my child towards Christ that it is Him working in me and my heart.

I will be full on honest. Sometimes these talks make we lose my mind. I just want to yell, "Do you realize how stupid you are being?!" "Why can't you just listen to me?!" "Do we have to talk about this now?!" Sometimes I just want to lay on the ground and play possum.

When I am trying to help my child deal with their own flesh, I am still dealing with mine.

BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, demonstrates His love for me, and my child, loving us, making us alive because of Christ, bestowing grace upon us that we do not deserve, and preparing us for His purpose, allowing us in those moments to both be transformed and brought more to His image.

I love what God does for my kids at camp. I love that God allows me to walk that path with my kids. I sincerely hope and pray that I am able to do that for many more years.

I am not naive enough to think that I will go on every sort of camp or missions trip type journey with my kids. I know that as they get older, some they will go on their own and God will use other people in their lives. I am thankful for the people He has put into their lives now to help them grow and learn more about Him.

I am so thankful for this time in their lives that God is allowing me to be a part of.

In so many ways I feel ill equipped to be their mother and know that it is the Spirits work in my life that is carrying me through and getting through to them in the first place.

So there you have it.

I'm not crazy.

I'm just a Mom.

It touched Me

Several weeks ago was our VBS.

I love VBS and I love directing it.

It is a lot of work, but I believe in the ministry and I believe in the fruits that God grants from the ministry.

VBS is a lot of work. A LOT!

One of the things that takes up my energy during that week is doing the opening and closing time every night.

The opening introduces the truths for the day and sets the tone for the rest of the night, and the closing is supposed to wrap up all the truths learned from the day.

On the 2nd night of VBS, I got in the car with my family after it was all done and was feeling very frustrated. The closing time wasn't going how I thought it should. With being outside under a tent, and close quarters, I was feeling the chaos. I was feeling like I had no control over the closing time, and that it wasn't serving its purpose....to wrap up all the truths learned from the day. To close the day in songs of worship.

So on the drive home that night I complained to my husband. I complained that I wasn't doing something right. That I didn't have control over the closing, and that I was frustrated with myself.

And then God like He does so many times in my life, used one of my kids to touch me.

We got home, got showered, and got settled, and Logan came to me wanting to talk and showing so much sincerity and concern that I wasn't sure what was going on.

He then proceeded to tell me what a great time he was having at VBS and how he loved to learn more about God in that setting.

He told me he couldn't believe that I was frustrated at the way things were going because he thought it was going really well.

He told me "I was really surprised to hear on the way home that you were frustrated because you would never be able to tell that when you are up there talking to all us kids."

It made my heart happy to hear all these things.

But then.....

He told me, "It amazes me how God made you. God gave you a gift for VBS. I love how God made you because you are amazing to me."

It was one of those parenting moments that gets etched into your brain. I love how God uses my kids to show me His love for me. I love to see the way the He is working in my kids and how He uses me as a Mother to show His love to them.

Needless to say, I chilled out about the closing for the next 3 nights.

And you know what? I think the last 3 nights went much better.

What will she be?

This picture was taken back in December when we were in Charlotte, NC.

Lana, who is named in part, after my Grandmother Margaret, wanted to go visit her grave and take flowers as well.

It was a sweet memory.

After taking some time to find the actual grave, we found that my Grandmothers was surrounded by graves with flowers while hers had none. This touched my girl. We lifted the vase and placed the flowers in it. Then we just stood there and talked. She wanted to know about the funeral (Grandmother died when I was 11 and it was also in December). She wanted to know if Grandmother would like her. She was curious about how later Paw-Paw will be buried in the same place. Lots of questions, but so sweetly asked.

I love that it is important to her that her middle name is Margaret. Even though she never met her, it seems that she feels some sort of kinship with her having shared the name.

I love that is was important to her to go and see where she is buried and to take flowers there to be sure she had some.

I love that us doing that was the most important thing on her agenda for that trip. I had to promise and then reassure that promise repeatedly.

3 months later, today, we went and visited another grave. This was the grave of her friend Ms. Eloise.

Ms. Eloise was 88 years old and died last July.

In December Lana had some Christmas money and used it to buy flowers for her grave.

We finally were able to go today and because we were able to go, it makes me wonder....

What will my sweet Lana be when she grows up?

I am amazed at the sensitivity that my 8 year old has towards elderly people and death.

Lana loved Ms. Eloise. She was a sweet little lady that had Alzheimer's, and loved the kids of our church with all her heart. She always had a quarter for Lana. Her sweet husband always made sure she had quarters to give out. Lana didn't love Ms. Eloise because she gave her quarters. She never kept them anyway, but put them in the offering plate.

Lana just loved Ms. Eloise. There was a connection she felt to her...one that I did not realize the depth of, until today.

We spent lots of time today by Ms. Eloise's grave today talking about God, and death, and Heaven.

It was another of those awesome opportunities that God gives us to speak the Gospel to our children.

We then spent some time picking up flowers around the other graves and carefully putting them back into vases. It bothers Lana that flowers have fallen out and nobody has picked them up.

It bothers her that there are too many graves that don't have flowers and that they need to mow the grass.

She was careful to walk around the graves and not step on the places where they are buried because that is somebodies loved one.

She is sensitive to death. She is sensitive to those that death leaves behind.

What will she be someday?

Will she be a person that goes to random graves and pulls the weeds and leaves flowers instead?

Will she go to nursing homes and sit and have tea parties with little old ladies?

Will she work at a funeral home and comfort people in their hour of need?

After we picked up all the flowers, Lana asked if we could go back and spend more time with Ms. Eloise.

She then sat by her grave with one lone tear drop on her face and asked if she could have a few minutes alone.

It was the most touching thing you could see an 8 year old do.

I will never forget that moment.

Whatever Ms. Eloise's role in Lana's life was while she was alive, her role in her death has had a profound impact on me as a Mother. I have seen a love and sensitivity that I did not know an 8 year old was capable of. I have also been given one more opportunity to talk to my daughter about the great mysteries of Godliness. About life, death and God's glory in it all.

What will she be someday?

I don't know the answer to that question, but by God's Grace I know she will be something beautiful for Him.

Potato Soup & Writing Things Down

I know everyone has a recipe they love for Potato Soup, but I have yet to find one that is my favorite. So today I invented one. Both children loved and fawned over it with reckless abandon all the while groaning and making "Bob" sounds. (The movie, "What about Bob?"). They then begged me to write it down so we can have it again.

Well, since one of the things that has been on my mind a lot, has been the death of a set of parents that we know of, leaving behind 3 kids ages 25, 19, and 13, I figured I should again be better about writing things down.

I'm not trying to be morbid, I just think of these things, like random potato soup, that I want to leave for my kids if something were to happen to me. Don't tell me you don't do the same thing. I won't believe you.

So here it is, in complete un measured form:

Potato Soup

1 carton chicken broth (the large kind)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

5 diced potatoes

6 baby carrots sliced thin

1 celery rib, sliced thin

Here's where I don't know measurements:

I threw in some minced onion, some garlic powder, some salt, some pepper.

Threw it all in the crock pot around 10:00 this morning, on high.

Around 1:00, I turned it to low.

Around 2:00, I added a handful of shredded cheddar.

Around 4:00 I turned it off so it could cool some.

Around 4:30 we ate it...oh how we ate it...we ate it with cheese, and sour cream, and bacon bits. MMM. We ate it with smiles on our faces, a glass of water by our sides, and a pumpkin muffin to top it all off.

Why, you may ask, did we eat it so early? Well so we could go to football practice and then come home and eat some more of course!

So here you go my little kiddies, Mama has documented this soup for you, so that noone can turn to you and say "No soup for you!"

Oh Lana

I just wanted to document this story because it was the hardest my husband has ever laughed at our daugther.

If you don't know this, Lana has some intestinal issues and had to have a Berium enima on Wednesday. During this we discovered that she has some loops in her colon. Its a funny looking little colon. While doing the Berium enima you can see what is going on inside on the screen. It was pretty cool for her to see her insides.

This spawned her "illustrating" a book she called "Exrays". Actually spelled "Ecxrays".

It is a little book of drawings of her intestines. Very funny in and of itself. Some of the drawings are um...interesting.

Well today we were at lunch in Chattanooga with my dad and Lana tells us that she is going to right another book. This book will be called....brace yourselves....are you ready???

POOP LOOPS!

OH my goodness I have never seen Stacy or my Dad laugh so hard at her!

I cannot deny that she is my child. I love her.

1st week of School. AKA "All the stuff I did wrong"

Monday August 23rd is the day that is on my calendar as "FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!"

Monday August 23rd kind of came and went and turned into Tuesday August 24th.

It couldn't be helped. Well. Maybe it could have. But I just didn't feel ready.

I tend to set a lot of store in our first day of school. Its like it makes it or breaks it for me.

So when Monday rolled around and my house was not in order, my software for school was not installed, and we were all half dead from being so busy, I felt as if we should have a "get our butts in order" day. And we did.

Tuesday August 24th. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

I am pleased to announce that Tuesday went fairly well.

Lana was so happy and loved her new Language Arts book.

Logan. He pretends not to love it but secretly I think he does.

We started reading together a book called "Big Truths for Young Hearts" to start our day and I like it.

The big glitch. Math. On Tuesday I still had not figured out how it works.

Wednesday August 25th. I have to work on Wednesdays. Almost every single Wednesday this summer, it has worked out for Stacy to be home in the morning.

Wouldn't you know on the week we start school, he has to be out in the field.

So we gathered up our reading materials and the kids went with me.

No biggie really, they've done a few hundred times, it just sure makes for us all being hot and tired when we get home around 2.

Some school happened in the afternoon. Some.

Guess what else happened Wednesday afternoon. Guess!

Diarrhea. 2 days in to school and already a little bug. 2 days in to HOMESCHOOLING.

Days go by....more days go by...and here go some more days....

And here we are, Thursday, September 2nd.

2nd week of school. AKA a very crazy week.

Here is what I love about homeschooling. Life and homeschooling don't work separate from each other. It is not 2 separate entities pulling and fighting for a place. They just mesh together and you make them both work. Its kind of like my marriage vows..."For better of for worse".

2 weeks into school and we have had glitches, and Dr appointments, and errands, and sickness, and a whole bunch of life stuff. And yet, my kids are enjoying school (except maybe not today with my sour attitude) and learn along with me to go with the flow and take it all for better or worse. I'm pretty sure we haven't REALLY stuck to my typed out schedule. Its more of a guideline I suppose. We just plug along and work together to make this life/school thing work.

It has been a week. One of those weeks. One of those weeks where I find myself looking at beach condos because I so badly want to get away and stare at the ocean.

As we near the end of this "those weeks", I am thankful for a merciful God that is patient when I am not, that is loving when I am not, and that is gracious when I am not.

Thank you Lord for new days, new weeks and Your hand in all things.

I have a feeling next week is going to be much better.

Me OH My

Monday is the day. The dreaded day. The day that I have look forward to and yet fall into a glazed over trance when I think about it. The day that ushers in routines and the "D" word.
Yes folks, that day would be our official first day back to school.

~BIG GULP~

~SIGH~

~A LITTLE FRANTIC PULLING OF THE HAIR~

~SLIGHTLY VOMITING IN MY MOUTH~

~YET DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THE HAPPY DANCE~

Why oh why can't I just be a normal person? I ask myself this every day.
We may never know the answer.

But alas, it is here. The day that I over analyze and plan for. I promise you, I do.
In my mind our first day back to the homeschool way of life has to be PERFECTION. ( Chandler Bing once said, "That would be perfection", when a supermodel asked him if he wanted some gum. I just thought you should know that I am not the only person to use the word.)
Back to the subject at hand....
I have these visions for our first day back ( last week we had a couple of trial runs with some busy work). I invision the children sitting nicely at their respective desks, clean new shirts on (yes, I bought them each a new back to school shirt...its part of my visions of sugar plums), pencils freshly sharpened, eyes filled with wonder...."Teach us Mother. Let us glean from your wisdom. Help us soak up all the knowledge that is stored away in the text books, waiting for us to explore."

~DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THE HAPPY DANCE~

This is the reality...
"I got syrup on my shirt, can I go wash it off?"
"My pencils won't sharpen, can I get a new one?"
"I don't understand!!! Do I have to do all this work today? Can't I just finish it tomorrow?"

~BIG GULP~

~SIGH~

~A LITTLE FRANTIC PULLING OF THE HAIR~

~SLIGHTLY VOMITING IN MY MOUTH~

I have tried. Honest I have. I have planned. I have prepared. My ducks are in a row.
I have such high aspirations for what this year will hold. I have goals for each of the kids in their studies. I have goals for myself as a more disciplined person (there goes that "D" word again).
I have some cute little things planned, like Brain teasers, Fun Facts, Limericks, Silly States. And not just once. ONE FOR EVERY WEEK!
I've got a Psalm and a Proverb of the week. Even a missionary of the week.
I mean come on now people, this is going to be great.

~CROSSING FINGERS~

~KNOCKING ON WOOD~

And all of these things are contingent on one day. One measly day. Monday August 17th.
The day that will go down in our homeschooling history as the day that we make it or break it.

Why OH why do I put so much stock into this one measly day.

~BIG GULP~

~SIGH~

~A LITTLE FRANTIC PULLING OF THE HAIR~

~SLIGHTLY VOMITING IN MY MOUTH~

~YET DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THE HAPPY DANCE~

Raising Discerning Kids in an Undiscerning World

This is what has been on my mind of late.
How do Stacy and I teach our children to be spiritually, morally, even on a level of basic common sense, discerning, in this world that is filled with "Me. Me. Me."?
At times I am overwhelmed with this task.
As a Mom that also homeschools, I am left with a huge responsibility towards my kids on many levels. I am 100% positive that this is where God wants our family right now, and I look forward to attacking this coming school year with a new fire and increased discipline in my own life.
However, the older my kids get, the heavier the weight is becoming for the directions I still need to steer them in.

I have always been a big proponent of the "First 5 years". I believe that those years are foundational to a childs grasp on many things. Obviously there are the basics, learn to walk, talk, eat with a spoon, etc... but there are the areas that prove more effort on the parents part, like discipline, spiritual introductions, manners, etc.
I enjoyed the first 5 years of my childrens lives. I enjoyed seeing them learn and understand and grow. Progress was easily measurable in many ways, and things were a little more cut and dry. More black and white if you will.

But now, we have what I will call "The next 5 years". My kids are 9 & 7 now, so I guess we are in the middle of childhood. I feel the weight of these 5 years differently than I did the first 5. I look around me and I see the forces trying to suck my kids in. I see the world marketing all it has to offer to my 9 & 7 year olds. I see the church (as a whole) trying to entertain my kids and lull them into a false sense of spirituality.
Basically, I see a lot of things being thrown at my kids, that they have to learn to discern whether it has merit and is favorable in God's eyes, or not. The lines of black and white are being sketched more into gray, with some shadows of blue, maybe a little green thrown into the mix, and some red for a "POP".

I have been convicted lately about personal discernment. First of all, am I discerning the world, (and this includes the church) and my response to it, through the lens of Scripture? Am I teaching my kids to do the same thing? How do I teach my kids to do this? How do I teach them to examine their hearts, to measure things by the Gospel?
I will be the first to admit, its not always easy. It takes time, it takes patience, it takes energy, it takes discipline. This area of discernment is not an issue you just visit once or twice and move on. It is constant. It is everywhere. It begins with me. Ouch. That hurts sometimes.

I have to be honest and say that sometimes I tell my kids "Just go watch TV.", and then I don't take the time to see what they are watching. I mean obviously I know they are watching Disney Channel or Nickolodean, but I don't know what show they are watching.
Wow, shame on me for letting Disney and Nick discern for my kids what is appropriate to watch. I was ashamed of myself when I saw that the show my 7 year old daughter was watching, showed a teenage girl in her teenage boys bedroom, alone and kissing. It was "harmless" by the worlds standards, but what about through Gods standards, and what should be my standards.
Tomorrow I will be going to the "Charter" office, and we are getting rid of our cable.
Extreme? Maybe. Necessary at this point in our lives. Yes.
But there's a kicker. I'm not just cancelling cable and leaving it at that. We will talk, at length I'm sure, about the "harmless" things we watch and about the standards that God has laid out for us.

Here's the thing though. I can cancel our cable and get rid of the Disney Channel, but that does not solve our problem. The problem with raising discerning kids in an undiscerning world has crept into the church. Our kids are being raised in a media savvy culture, and that hasn't been left in the church parking lot. I am NOT in anyway against technology, media, lights, the band, etc. I am not against these things in our church buildings. What I am against is the churchs competition to be as good or better, than the "world" in these things, without any discernment and clarity of the Gospel.
I don't believe that we need to sit on hard wooden pews, and have an all day hymn service, and wear our long skirts. But I wonder what we are teaching our children when they have to be entertained every single second they are on church property. Its a hard line. I work with kids enough to know that. I don't know the answer either. I'm a VBS director for crying out loud, and VBS is about FUN! I'm all for fun, without compromise.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." If I am not ashamed, then I don't need to compromise it either.
Do I think we compromise the Gospel with bright lights, and loud music, and engaging speakers?
Not necessarily. But I do think we can. And I think in many cases we do.

And this is where I start to feel the overwhelming responsibility as a Christian Mother, trying to raise discerning kids. In light of recent experiences and discussions with my 9 year old, I am newly reminded of my responsibility in helping him work through issues that the church has helped to confuse. I'm realizing more and more that this same child needs me to help him talk things out, and through these talks, he is learning to be a more discerning believer.
I can tell you that we still have a long way to go, but I am encouraged that God is working in his life to give him the desire to be a more discerning young believer. Whether he realizes thats what is going on or not.
But WOW! What a responsibility I have as a parent to discern for my kids so that they can learn to discern!
It kind of boggles the mind doesn't it?

I desperately want to raise Godly children. I am thankful for other parents God has placed in my life that want the same for their kids. I am thankful for Godly influences in my kids lives. People that are willing to invest themselves and live out the Gospel and further the kingdom of Christ in this young generation.
I pray that we all strive towards being discerning parents in an undiscerning world and that we might help our children do the same.

An All American Boy Birthday Party

Now, say that 5 times fast!
Last Friday was Logans 9th birthday, and in honor of this momentous occasion, we threw him an "All American Boy Party".
What does one do at an All American Boy Party, you might ask...

Well, when I throw an AABP, you are limited to 5 friends! Sorry Charlie, 6 boys for a sleepover is all I can handle!

A good old fashioned AABP has to start on the trampoline...


And some water balloons...

And maybe some boys thinking about throwing water balloons over onto the trampoline!

An AABP must have All American decorations...

And good old All American Boy food...

A shrimp boil, complete with Shrimp, Smoked Sausage, Corn on the Cob, and Potatoes, with some garlic bread on the side.

Of course you have to have Coca Cola in glass bottles to round out this All American Meal!

Cheers to some truly All American Boys!

No AABP would be complete without a gift card from Wal-Mart.

After all the Wal-Mart smiley face IS the new symbol of America.

Of Course some good ole fashioned Lincoln bills are pretty All American Boy too!

Now what good ole American boy doesn't love a Smore?

Here we combine the best of both worlds with these Smores Ice Cream Sandwiches.

All American boys must have at LEAST 1 picture with the classic "Rabbit Ears."

These All American boys where a little to wet and messy to eat Smores inside this All American Moms house ;)

NO Red blooded All American Boy actually wears their PJ's the right way in front of others All American Boys!

All American boys don't sleep until at least 3 A.M. and of course the ones that fall asleep first, get pranked on!

Even the All American Birthday Boy got a taste of the blue marker!

All American boys go to bed late, and awake mid morning, hungry and waiting for their Cinnamon Rolls! Give me Cinnamon Rolls or Give me Death, they declare!

Yes being an All American Boy is a good thing. The ages of 8-11 are kind of like the "Golden Years" of boyhood, and I think these Golden age boys succeeded in having a Birthday that Logan won't soon forget.

Slumber Party!

As you may know, last Friday, June 5th, was Lana's 7th Birthday!
Also my ten year anniverary, but since I just had a hysterectomy, we had a child with the stomach bug, and one with a bday, there really isn't much to say about that. ;)
We will be going away in the fall, just the 2 of us, so that will be nice!

Anyways, this year was the first year since Lana turned 3 that her Bday did not fall during VBS. It was the day after, so her and I got to do some fun stuff.
We went to the Chocolate Biscuit Tea Room for lunch, which was lovely.
Then I took her shopping at Cato and let her pick out a couple outfits. She's been dying to shop at Cato and they start at size 7, so this was a nice treat for her.

The real fun though started last night when she got to have a slumber party with 3 girlfriends!

Since Lana likes pretty things I tried to make the table extra pretty.

I picked some flowers from the yard (OK, really the only flowers!), and we had a candlelight dinner with my China plates and nice glasses.

On the menu, per birthday girls request...

Crescent style chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

MMMMM....

Here the girls are enjoying their "fancy dinner"!

Lana, Christina, Gracie, and Bella.

Of course she wanted chocolate cake!

And she wanted chocolate covered strawberries.

So in honor of turning the ripe old age of 7, I made a Triple 7 Cake.

7 layers of cake. 7 layers of homemade/madeup frosting. 7 ginormous chocolate covered strawberries.

And yes, I was a liiiitle bit nervous about carrying this monster. But it never fell!

Add some sparkler candles....

And we are ready to present it to the birthday girl!

I think she likes it!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Lana!

Happy Birthday to you!

I know you are wondering how to cut a cake of such large proportion...

Um, there just was no perfect way...so we settled for taking off a couple of layers.

This face is why I do what I do!

And obviously the guests are pleased !

Christina knows how to work the camera!

Gracie, being the queen of suave!

Bella, cute and poised!

And yes, let us not forget Daddy, with chocolate on his teeth, embarrasing his little girl!

After present time, which was totally fun...we gathered on the couch for a group hug!

And a few silly shots as well.

On to the movie watching and a little dress up with makovers.

Ouch!

Time for bed!

Yeah right!

They had a good time giggling on their pallet.

And finally fell asleep around 12:00.

Ah!!!!

By 7:30 in the morning they were already out jumping on the trampoline while I made some pull apart cinnamon rolls.

MMMM good!

And they finished out the morning making bracelets from the bead kit she got from Bella.

All in all I think they all had a wonderful time and I was happy to do this for my little 7 year old.

My kids have had to put up with alot this year and I wanted to thank them for a job well done and honor them on their special days!

Lana got to go first, but Logan is soon to follow the end of the month.

Thank you LanaLou for being a totally sweet girl and appreciating the little things!

I hope you had a memorable 7th birthday :)

Insight

Today the Lord ministered to me through my children.
I love it when that happens. I love it when I see His fruits manifesting themselves in their lives.
This morning was a good morning for the Gospel in our house.



Yesterday I got word from my sister, Laura, that there may be a complication with her unborn baby, Skylar. They had an ultrasound that showed fluid on the babies brain. Then they had another one with better equipment that said , no. But after her doctor has looked at that ultrasound, she is saying, yes, she is seeing something she doesn't like. So they will be having to wait until May 4th to have another ultrasound, when she is 29 weeks, to confirm that there is or isn't fluid.



I wasn't going to tell my children about this. I don't know why. I guess I just didn't want them to worry. But what I learned today was that by not telling them, I was not giving them the opportunity to experience God.

This morning they learned of this, through some written words that they read.
They asked me what was wrong with Skylar, and I told them.
My poor little Lana Lou proceeded to cry her eyes out. Uncontrollably.
She is like me. She doesn't like people to see her cry, and so she immediately buried her head in my chest and then proceeded to let the flood gates open.



What happened next was moments with my children that I won't forget.
Lana and I laid in my bed and read a missionary story together, prayed, and talked about God having a plan and a purpose for everything that happens.
She still was very melancholy and clung to my leg while I made lunch.

While she was clinging to my leg, Logan came in with his Bible and said "Lana, I want to read some scripture to you. Its long and a lot of verses, but I want you to listen."
He then began reading to her out of Genesis. The story of Noah and the great flood.
I was listening to him read, and kept thinking..."Where is he going with this?".
When he was done, he asked Lana if she got it.
Lana said no, and I myself was wondering what he was getting at.

Then he told us.

"You see Lana, I read you this story because it shows us that God is in control. That even when bad things are happening, like a flood that is destroying everyone except for 8 people, that God is in control of everything. Noah believed God and trusted in Him, and things were bad around them, but he knew that God was in control. God did what He said He was going to do, and protected Noah and his family. If God was in control over a big flood, God is in control over Skylar too."



WOW!!! I am so thankful for the insight God has given to my son! I am thankful that He uses even what to us is bad news, and uses it for His glory! If I would not have told my children this news, they would have missed an important lesson on God's love for His people and His sovereignty over all things.

What resulted after this, was Lana going and getting her new VBS music CD, and finding a song based on Psalm 33:4. The song is called "We can trust Him"
She then listened to and sang "You are my King, Amazing love", complete with the motions she learned, and had herself a little worship service.
The difference in her countenance before and after hearing the words of the Lord and then worshiping Him the way that she knows best, through music, was amazing!

I have learned a good lesson today about my kids and how God is working in their lives.
Praise be to Him.

Pleasant Noise

The kids are back.
How do I know?
Mario Kart is playing in the background, as well as some sort of made up Lana song.
Oh wait, and now here comes the griping at each other.
But I like it.
While I enjoyed their absence for the past week, I have also enjoyed their return.
As a Mother that also homeschools, my days are pretty much filled with the kids.
I would not have it any other way right now, it is where God has us, and I mostly enjoy it.
On the flip side of being a mother that homeschools, a week off here and there is a TRUE joy!
I don't have family here, so I don't get those weekly breaks. Therefore I gladly welcome the times my parents take them for an extended stay. Thanks Marmi and Pappy! You're the BEST!

I have to say though, I miss my kids when they are gone.
They are a part of me. They make me laugh, cry, relax and be lazy, or get out and be crazy.
OK sorry, I couldn't resist a ryhme!
But seriously, I like having them around. Who else is going to carry the laundry?
One day last week when I was home all alone for 12 hours, I forgot to eat.
Then when I went to find something to eat, all I could find was some graham crackers, PB, and grapes. See, they remind me to fix food.

I accomplished A LOT last week! Including the room makeover, of which I will try to take pictures of tomorrow.

Stacy and I had 2 fullish days to spend together and that was so nice. We played tennis, and golf, ate out, and watched lots of "Lost". It was just nice to hang out and see him relax from being off work.

And speaking of Stacy, I've gotta go pick him up from work...but I promise I'll get those makeover pics posted soon!

Family Day

Yesterday we went to Oak Mountain for the afternoon.
I love Oak Mountain and I love my Family, so there ya go!
We even ran into our good friends Nick and Michelle and their kidos too.
If you knew Lana two years ago, then you know that the following pictures are shocking...



There was a day when she would scream bloody murder at the site of an animal up close, or anything dressed up. Now she is a tough girl!


Well, until it comes time to pick up worms!
Although, I will say, that at the end of the day we told her that if she would eat a worm we would buy her any pretty dress she wanted. Instead she took a worm off a hook and asked for a pretty dress. Sorry chic, that wasn't the deal!

Logan threw up in the morning before we left and didn't perk up until he got a Mtn Dew, a fishing pole, and some worms!



I love to watch Logan fish. He is so intent and I wonder what he is thinking about.
Everytime I've ever been around him at a lake with a fishing pole, he has the best time. I love having a typical boy that loves boy stuff like fishing!

And this picture I just love for obvious reasons!

We went on the "Tree Top Trail". In all my years of going to Oak Mtn, I have never done that. It was pretty cool and a great idea!

I love Oak Mountain, and I love my family...I want to do that everyday.