Fast Photo Wednesday

because if I waited for "Foto Friday", while in keeping with my mis-spelling, and over use of commas, it would also be procrastination and you might never see pictures!

The two year old enthusiastic present opener. And drama diva, who knows she is the youngest and fully intends on using that to her advantage!

With so many birthdays, I was trying to find a cake alternative. There is such a thing as too much cake. It's called needing to wear a bathing suit this summer!

The bigger kids created a watermelon on the ceiling out of streamers and balloons. Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea.

In the middle of the month we went to Western Washington State for a Pastor & Wives Conference. Anne Graham Lotz (Billy's daughter) spoke and that was amazing. The drive was killer (13 hours/670 miles) especially since we drove out on Thursday and home on Saturday. We did however stay ahead of the gas price change and never paid over $3.59 - until we got home. This was the highlight of the trip for the kids!

Continuing our backwards look at the month of May, this was Meredith's flower birthday. I was obviously too busy with little girls to take many more picture than that. (Note to self: designate a photographer for next party!)

Track. That is what has kept us busy this month. Next week the kids have a track meet and I should have better pictures of them then.
Mikalah completed Jr. Girl Scouts and "bridged" to Cadets.
There you have it, my month (so far) in pictures.

Now back to enjoying the first day of sun in a week! Bring on the Vitamin D!

Now Enrolling

Apparently I need to go back to school to learn how to spell!

Quick Explination

Five birthdays in two and a half weeks.

See you in June!

Only 24 Hours, Seriously?

Today is one of those days where I'm not sure if I will get everything done.

• clean bathrooms
• vac floor
• laundry
• prep for a MOPS event
• lunch
• Mike's dr. appt
• make calls reporting appt. results
• unload dishwasher
• reload dishwasher
• Bible Study
• Mikalah eye dr. appt
• laundry
• prep for MOPS meeting
• make dinner
• laundry
• eat dinner
• MOPS meeting (like how the prep happens the day of...hmmmm)
• clean kitchen
• laundry
• prep for Jeffrey's speech eval tomorrow morning
• put tons of laundry away!

I'm hoping not to see midnight tonight!!!

Not For The Weak Stomach

So my husband want some sympathy since I'm obviously not giving the man any. I mean really, he hurt himself almost two weeks ago...get over it, right?

Anyway, he wanted you to see his "impressive" bruise. Apparently the physical therapist was even impressed and brought other therapists in to see.

In the interest of saving your lunch, you'll have to scroll down to see it. That way if you really don't want to you don't have to.


















Not bad, eh? The doctor says it might even bruise all the way down to his feet.

Beyond Myself

I recently started going through Beth Moore's Bible Study, Living Beyond Yourself, with a few long distance friends. I've tried starting this study several times, but I needed the accountability. The plan is to start this study with church this June, but I've started it a bit earlier so I'm ahead and not trying to cram finish at the last minute.

I also thought I would try and share some of the things I am learning. This way if I start to whine about something y'all can just point me back to this post!

Thoughts for week 1:

• Christians WILL endure hardships! I don’t think I’ve ever quite accepted that. I've read it, and knew it, but I think I still thought if I tried harder, things would be easier...better. There have been lots of hardships in my life and I am beginning to see how things that have affected my life have showed Jesus to others. Doesn’t mean I like it anymore, but I’m beginning to see that they have a purpose.
• Going along with that, it is important to plan a response. Years ago I heard someone talk about this. They had planned what their response would be if ever one of their kids came to them with “bad news”. They said that the first words out of their mouth would be, “I love you.” When their 16 yr old came to them to tell them she was pregnant, their first words were, “I love you.” That set the whole tone for the following conversation. I have actually used that before, and it was amazing how calm I was and how that one phrase was so effective! I have planned that my response to “hardship” will be to say, “thank you, God.” I may not really know what I’m saying thank you for at the time and deep down I may not even mean it, but it will set the tone for the rest of my attitude follow.
• I have always defined grace as, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. That simplistic definition is what I have used for probably 25 years. I loved that the lesson defined grace as not only forgiveness and our “ticket to heaven”, but that it is also a gift of joy and thankfulness. This harkens back to planning a response. Am I being thankful? Am I being joyful? Have I accepted His grace fully or just the free “ticket”?

Those are just a few of the things that really struck me this past week. If the entire study is going to be this deep, I'm going to need a nap after each lesson! (seriously it is exhausting!)

Originally I thought this was going to be a nice little study on the Fruit of the Spirit, but having done Beth Moore studies before, I should have known better!

These are a few of our favorite things!

For a preschool project, the kids had to come up with 5-8 of their favorite things and bring in pictures of them. Gotta love Google Images for that! Remember when we would cut them out of magazines? Now I just print a page of pictures and they can cut that up!




Everybody wanted to get involved, so here are the kids "favorite" things...





Jeffrey:
Pop
Food
TV
Dora
Webkinz
Morgan

Meredith:

Flowers
Family
Playing @ the Park
Webkinz
Mia (Am Girl Doll)
Pink Pony (remember her naming abilities?)





Jarrett:
Spinach
Video Games
TV
Computer
Webkinz


(at least the spinach is good!)





Judson:
Family
Friends
God
Lima beans
Electronics
(yes, he really likes lima beans)





Mikalah:
Best friends
Computers
Skating
Books
Monkeys

I'm not sure what that says about our family, but I love them!

Too Fast!

I know that their growing means they are healthy, but I just want to capture them just like this!

Thanks to Jill who endured an hour and a half with my crazy children to capture pictures. I'll post more later!

God's Filter

Quote from Barbara Johnson:

We know that whatever God sends into our lives has first passed through His filter; nothing comes into the life of a Christian that God doesn't know about. Believing that, we can relax and know that God will be with us during the trials ahead.

Picture courtesy of Elaine Heasley Photography.