More Fun

One of the best parts about camp is getting to hang out and know others better. Without any type of wireless signal..there is no phone service, Internet service (no blogging, no facebook, no working) and no texting. It is face-to-face time. Rody yesterday looked over my shoulder as I posted an update on FB and said "Sound bites..that is what we have come to." Ouch some truth to that, but at camp there were some deep, funny and just sweet conversations..between adults and kids alike!

Cousin Time

We had a big campout in the living room...

Climbed to the highest peaks...

One of the things I missed growing up as a kid was really knowing my cousins. Hard to do when they are in NC and you are in NM. But I am so glad my kids get to be with their cousins often. Rody's sister's boys came and went to camp with us and so the kids had a blast hanging out together. David loves having some males around...especially ones that have the same passion for Legos as he does. Kacey and Bob are raising incredible boys who are a joy to be around and a great influence for our kids.

Happy Birthday David

June is filled with all kinds of fun for our family (hence the reason this post is 10 days late). We have an anniversary, two birthdays and Father's Day. Talk about counting your blessings all at one time.

I cannot believe little D turned 5 this month!! Where has the time gone? I still remember bringing home this happy little thing that just sat around for 2 years and grinned (he loves to tell this story on himself now). There is so much about David I love. David is my snuggler. He likes Mommy time in the morning, but once awake he is all boy. He loves guns, knives (of which he has a great collection--thank you all that have contributed), bow & arrows, Legos (the new love of his life), fishing, trucks and dirt!! When asked what he wanted to do for his birthday...he wanted to go to the ranch and drive the stick shift pick up. He thinks that is pretty cool. For his birthday we were blessed to have his boy cousins come through!! So we swam, had pizza and opened presents. He has been begging for a watch (which he wore for 2 days of course) and Legos. Granny and Nana have kept him supplied and just so you know he has built, taken apart and built them again almost every day. David is such a kind and sweet little boy who we pray grows into a man of God who will love God, His word and others! Happy Birthday D!

Why We Do What We Do...

Last night I was reminded why we do what we do. The new science curriculum catalog came and Kyra sat down with it like it was the Christmas wishbook. In it she found animals to dissect and put them in order of what we should dissect first and then picked several other things for her wishlist. Then she found it..a backpack filled with all the things that a scientist would desire. She determined this was what she wanted for her birthday (oh but we don't have time for it to come in) So how about Christmas. How many kids during summer break want to do school stuff (oh there is the key..they don't see it as school stuff).

Which led to today...we packed our own backpack and went out exploring. After a brief trip to the mommy er after dropping the scope on his toe..they headed off. Binoculars in hand, journals and much more. I love it!!! And then there is goldilocks!!!

Swimming

The fun continues (sorry I'm blogging from beginning of week until today). Yesterday we went to the base with some friends and had a BLAST at the pool there. It has a walk in entry so it was perfect for the kids (especially Katie). Of course, Katie wanted to be just like the big kids and stay in the 4 ft end. She kept saying "Mom, let go! I swim by self" And knowing her, she would have tried it!! She LOVES the water!! We had a great time and today mom looks like Bob. (That's VeggieTales).

Park Day

We enjoyed several outings with friends from church this week. We went to the park on Tuesday and the kids played and the moms sweated. No we were not working out..just sitting actually. Okay I did get a work out pushing the girls on the tire swing. But they have a great big covered basketball court and the scooters were a lot of fun.

Thank you Lord for good friends.

Just Plain Cute

Sometimes I have to post pics that have no story behind them but just b/c they are cute. My children are such a blessing and I just adore them. I love it when they are all dressed up and smell good (I also love them when they are sweaty, smelly and wearing clothes that have popsicle dripped down the front of it) Thank you Lord for my children.

Funny Katie Sayings

I am laughing at Katie. She and Kyra are watching Superbook bible stories and a guy has a moustache (actually I think it is more of a beard) but she said "I don't like that muscle." Reminds me of when Kyra was her age. She was in the bath and Rody shaved off his moustache and came in the bathroom without a shirt on and said "Dad, where's your moustache? Did you put it under your arm?" Kids!!! Aren't they great?
The other day she was sitting on the counter while I put on my make-up talking to the baby in the mirror. It was a 'him' and he was getting a scolding. She told him to "stop it. don't make me turn this car around." Hmm...where has she heard that??

Be Satisfied

I absolutely LOVE the word of God. I love getting up early and the Lord just speaking to my heart while it is quiet (sometimes the only quiet all day long--but that also is a blessing). But I loved this in my quiet time reading.

Psalm 36:8-9 "They shall be ABUNDANTLY satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of they pleasures. for with thee is the fountain of life..."

You know following Christ completely does call us to a life of abandonment. But we often see this as a bad thing. I can see Him shaking His head going .. you don't get it. Let go of that tattered, broken, filthy thing...Look. I want to give you ABUNDANTLY!! God is so good! May He bless you ABUNDANTLY today as you seek His face. For when you seek Him, you shall find Him! Love ya!

What ifs....

I try really hard not to do "what if's" concerning life. But something has so captivated my heart right now. As we approach Kyra's 8th birthday I always get sentimental thinking of carrying my babies and their births (David has one coming up too--not ignoring you little buddy). I always reflect on the first 6 weeks of her life and what God in our lives through her and the entire experience. I sometimes before I "take every thought captive" think ... what if...what if she was our delivery nurses little boy born a few months after her with the same condition that they didn't catch and he didn't make it. What if she had been born earlier and the flood in Houston was at its peak and we couldn't have taken her there.
As I am contemplating these things, through a friend's blog I ran across a ministry where believers who are ministering there are helping Iraqi children receive heart surgeries that they cannot get in Iraq. I have been reading and praying for a little boy name Shad and following his travel to Turkey for the surgery, the surgery and then his passing. I cannot help but think..."What if" What if my daughter had been born in Iraq instead of America...I do not know why except God's word promises us that He places us in specific places and times for His purposes. So thank you Lord...thank you for your hand of protection on my little girl's life. Lord please comfort Shad's family and through this help them to come know the one true God and His son Jesus Christ.

Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time, there was this handsome, rugged cowboy with a rough and tough exterior and gentle and tender interior who caught the eye of a maiden. He was a country boy, she was a city girl (sort of...but yeah mostly). This handsome, rugged cowboy was a gentleman in every sense of the word who caused this maiden to fall head over heels in love with him. 13 years ago today I had the honor of walking down the aisle and joining my life with Rody.

I had NO IDEA...what a wonderful, exhilirating ride we would have together. I have seen God take this rough & tough, introvert and mold and shape into the most godly man I know. A man who's heart breaks at sin, who is tender and loving to those hurting and in need and who loves his family with a consuming and passionate love. He is my best friend and the joy of my life. We have always said we could do anything God asked us to do as long as we can do it together.

Rody, I love you and I am blessed to be your wife and the mother of your children. Thank you for 13 AMAZING years. They have gone fast, but I look forward to every second we have together. Happy Anniversary.

Summer Fun

We have been blessed this summer to get to have my parent's boat here. It has been the perfect escape to just get out and be together as a family. Having grown up on the water...this is what summer is all about and my fondest memories of summer. The kids have gotten used to jumping in the lake and we got all three of them on the innertube this weekend. I wish I could have captured in a picture little Katie Bug taking her right hand and curling the four fingers of her left hand so she could make a thumbs up...which means go faster. They are a hoot.

I have all the pics on the slide show but have learned if I don't post them, when we get the blog printed the slide show doesn't print out.

Black Eye

What happens when your brother falls into your lap and hits you square on the eye bone with his hard head? A black eye of course...poor Kyra had a black eye for several days. While admiring her shiner in the mirror she said..."Mom it looks like I have a lot of mascara on." She took it well even though she looked pitiful and had a VERY repentive brother.

What do you know about snails?

Did you know you can find a ton of snails after a good rain? Did you know that snails will actually eat a noticable notch out of an apple? Did you know snails can entertain your kids for HOURS? Did you know snails will die if you put them in a play dog cage with no water?

Peas in a Pod

Don't they look cute!! They are growing up so fast, but God continues to bond and knit them together. We are going through a phase now where Katie often prefers Kyra when she wants to be comforted. At first, this hurt. Then God reminded me this is what I prayed for. I will not be here forever so I pray their bond is stronger than any other.

Swim Party

Last weekend we enjoyed a fun time @ Brown's Pool with an end-of-year homeschool party. We were having so much fun I didn't snap many pictures. That and John, our youth pastor, had me judging their dives off the high dive. I really don't know who had more fun. We all did that is for sure. And yes I was a wimp and didn't get fully in as the water was FREEZING....but fun! Oh and the picture of D on the slide is misleading...we got cold feet at the last minute. Must have been the cold water.

Heavens Declare Your Glory

Psalm 19: 1-3 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork (amen and amen) Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."

I had to 'borrow' this picture from a friend of ours who lives in Montana. Isn't it incredible. But as I was reading this passage this morning I thought...God declares His glory to every "speech and language". My friends serving in Kenya and South Africa...God speaks through His creation. Oh He is so worthy of our praise!

Okay you just have to read all of Psalm 19...it is good. But I love these v.7 "the law of the Lord is PERFECT, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Oh I need that. Then my prayer v.14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Lord guard my mouth and heart that it would be acceptable to you.

Graduation

As you can tell I'm catching up...but my theory..better late than never. We went at the end of May to celebrate the graduation of my 3rd of 4 nieces TaBree. She graduated in the top 20% of her class and is headed to be a Red Raider at Texas Tech in the fall. We are very proud of her and love her as our own. She is my niece yes, but also a friend. Tabbie..we wish you the very best. We pray God's protection over you and that college would be a time of growing in the Lord. We pray He surround you with godly friends and mentors that point you to Christ. Oh and a random pic of Rody and I (b/c I was actually having a good hair day). Doesn't Rody look happy?? Love you babe! He was happier when we got done we were on our way to eat Lucy's and he got really good NM green chile.