The Secret Life of "These!"

At dinner tonight.... just looking around the table... we had all but 2 of our children!!!( Britney and Layton are at the beach with the Cary Family) I realized once more just how blessed Jim and I are... but I also can see struggle on each of their faces!!! And oh my... what different struggles they are all facing!!! Mitch, our first born... raising a 3 year old daughter and providing for a wife and trying to make his construction business the best that it can be!!! We are so incredibly proud of him!!!! Holly and Brad... stress, emotional tiredness, joy, hard work... all written on both of their faces!!! Holly just had to say good bye to her first kindergarten class!!! They truly adored her!!! and how could they not??!!!! :) Brad trying to make HUGE decisions about work and where they will be in a few years.... it all seems larger than life to them and it truly is!!! At least at my age I remember how it felt and I see where we are now and that , yes.... God is in control in each of these circumstances!!! And then, there is Miller!! My 6ft. 4" 16 year old baby boy!!!! Larger than life and such a joy!!!! Straight A student...(well, close!!) basketball player, football player, lacrosse player..................... with a dad gum cubic zirconium earring in his ear!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was he thinking????? FOR THE LOVE??? as Holly would say!!!!! And guess what.... thanks to Lisa Anne giving me a heads up... I was able to "handle" it!!!! In the scheme of life..... well, ok!!! its incredibly stupid and I hope it gets infected!!!! But ... this too shall pass!!!! I'm just trying to remember to pray for his "security" to be in Christ and to not fall to peer pressure!!! Wow!!! guess I need to pray harder and ask you to join me in that prayer!!!!!
After dinner... when he had shown it off to his brother who told him under no circumstances was he going to the movie with him tonight as planned with that "thing" in his ear!!! he took it off... very reluctantly I might add!!! But then I found out it was only because he didn't know HOW to get it out!!! And you know what??Thats a GOOD thing!! he shouldn't know how to take an earring out of his ear!!! He's a boy!!!!!
Ok.... enough ranting!!! At least Mitch asked Miller to go to a movie tonight and I can rest assured that they are having quality time ( well, maybe just some time!!! at least!!) together!!!!! Thank You, Lord!!!! for special moments that seem trivial to us!!!!
I on the other hand, am looking very forward to some quality time with my husband at the beach for the next several days!!!! I hate the packing and the planning but boy do I love it when we get there!!!!!
And once again, my favorite Karen Kingsbury quote, "And to God Almighty, the Author of life, who has for now-blessed me with these-

Talk to you soon!!!!!

You don't really know music..... now do ya????

Its been a "different" kind of day today!!! The only thing that stayed the same was that Holly and Brad came over to watch Idol!! We've been doing that pretty much all season when it works out with everyone's schedule.... Watching the finale, eating pizzas from CPK... making Miller study for exams.... just another day in the life of "US"!!! As I looked around the den.... the pillows thrown on the floor... the dogs chasing each other around and around and around the den until all of my rugs are almost inside out!!!!! (they always bring Murphy when they come over!!! which I really do love!!!) and me trying to get Jim to watch the video that Britney sent of Layton's first visit to Dr. Downs (the dentist!) I realized that I am VERY blessed!!!! No matter what "changes" may be taking place in our lives or the fact that summer is here and once again.... I hate change!!!!! I am a very blessed woman!!!! Schedules are about to be different.... life is about to be different.... and life IS different now that Uncle John is gone to be with the Lord.....I have only this to say.... in the words of my favorite author, Karen Kingsbury.... "And to God Almighty, the Author of Life, who has-for now-blessed me with these!!!!!!! Thank you Lord for my family!!!! My unbelievable husband, Jim, who is a saint to put up with me!!! My precious children..... Mitch, Britney and Layton!!! Holly and Brad!!!! and Miller!!!!! thank you Lord for all that we are going to experience with each and every one of them!!!!!! Thank you, Lord..... for the gift of Eternal life and for the joy that only You can bring!!!!!!!!!
To end the night... I'm going to watch Idol from a few weeks back so I can Lee sing Hallelujah!!!!
(hopefully..... while we are at the beach next week, I can figure out when all of the fun, uplifting stuff can get posted!!!! like recipes,gardening tips, etc..... wow!! did I really just say gardening tips??!!!! Jim would laugh!!!)
night!!!!! love you!!!!!

Its almost bedtime!!!

Ok.... made it through today when I thought it might be almost impossible!!! Actually found joy in the midst of circumstances!!! Its great to be surrounded with wonderful friends that will lift you up!!! I also know that many of you think that I am going through something really bad!!! Anything different.... or anything that involves me stepping out of my comfort zone is REALLY bad in my selfish, human eyes!!!! Trust me.... what I am going through is a piece of cake compared to what alot of you and alot of my close friends are going through right now!!! I just chose to write about it because .... I chose to!!!! No other reason!!! And I certainly hope that in some very small way at least, I can help you if you need it!!! or pray for you if you need it!!!! or be there for you if you need it!!! please do not worry about me or ever think that my thoughts are what I want them to be or my actions are what I want them to be!!!! I am struggling just like everyone else... or even more so!!!! I just want to be where God wants me to be and to learn... finally!!!! what He wants me to learn!!!!! Hopefully, very soon I can turn this blog into what I really want it to be an

An inspiration to young moms, young couples, old friends that I haven't seen or talked to in a while, or simply those that just want to share their thoughts and ideas!!! I want to post recipes, ideas, jokes, verses, life lessons.... whatever it is that God lays on our hearts to share with each other!!!! For now, I will close with these wonderful verses from Isaiah 40:28-31 " Do you not know? have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God, The Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength! They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not be faint". My prayer for all of us is that we will finish strong and not grow "weary" in our daily lives and in our walk with Him!!!!!

Here comes the day!

I woke this morning to the sight of my alarm clock flashing 6:33! Just another reminder from God to focus on the verse that He put on my heart two nights ago from Matthew. Thank You, Lord! It made me smile to know that He truly does want me to focus on not worrying and to trust Him with the changes that are about to take place in our lives as a family and in the life of my shop! I don't like change!! Ok!! I said it! In my mind I can hear myself screaming it! Then this quiet, still voice reminds me to trust Him.... simply trust Him!!! Matthew 6:33 says, Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will given to you as well. vs. 34: Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it itself!!! Each day has enough trouble of its own. As I read some more I looked back in my bible and saw that at some point in my life I must have been worrying about something else because vs. 27 was not only underlined.... it was CIRCLED!! 27: And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? WOW!!! I'm going to keep these verses on my mind all day and hopefully I will have something encouraging to share later!!!

For now, its time to start the dishwasher, the laundry, feed my two bread starters that are driving me crazy! and head off to my shop to try and figure out a game plan!!!! If I figure it out I will let you know!!!

First attempt!!

Can't believe I'm actually doing this!!! Its a dream come true!!! My own space to finally write what God is putting on my heart!!! And mostly... to share dreams and realities with others that desire to raise their children according to God's word and to love their husbands, protect their marriages and have an exciting, fulfilling life!!!!!