Summer fun

Catfish catchin!

rope swing fun!

Fishing boy!

This girl loves to ride the boat.

Chillin'

When he is mean to sister he writes what he loves about her!

When a girl has a brother sometimes babies are in danger.

Another one bites the dust.

Fun summer; I miss you today!

I love our lake couch in the pic!

Now that is a watermelon! Our largest one yet. Each year something different is great and something different fails in our garden. This was the year of watermelon and okra.

You've got a Friend....

 Today we were riding to a park and Je-Je was lamenting that no friends were meeting us there to play.  I said, "Now that really hurts our feelings Je-je."  Cay chimes in without missing a beat, "you've got a friend sitting right behind you." 

I LOVED IT!  Amen!  They did go and make friends with EACH OTHER!!  I was amazed at how empty the park was and then I went by a karate studio (there was seriously nowhere to park) that was all packed out and had a realization that most kids are totally "programmed" after school. I am glad we just played together today. 

Our last spring babies came and we ended up with 5 boys and 5 girls.

Mr. Bo

Jeb and Copper

Jonas made a fun swing at the creek!

my happy boy

I was SO SORE AFTER THIS...I am getting old.

Uncle Jacob finally got up the nerve to trust our Wal-mart rope.

LOVES TO FISH!

These kids are living to fish!  They caught 51 minnows the other night while I was grading papers-wow!

sleeping in the big girl bed!  She is growing up fast!  Her pink and purple butterfly bedding is now in there and she is loving the freedom and the purple sheets!

 Seems like so many sad things are going on around us in the world.  I was reading Habakkuk this week and the prophet really has some complicated and tough questions for God.  I was glad to be in the company of someone asking questions...but I liked his final thoughts on God's answers:

Habakkuk 3

New International Version (NIV)

Habakkuk’s Prayer

3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.^[a]

² Lord, I have heard of your fame;
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
    in our time make them known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

³ God came from Teman,
    the Holy One from Mount Paran.^[b]
His glory covered the heavens
    and his praise filled the earth.
⁴ His splendor was like the sunrise;
    rays flashed from his hand,
    where his power was hidden.
⁵ Plague went before him;
    pestilence followed his steps.
⁶ He stood, and shook the earth;
    he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
    and the age-old hills collapsed —
    but he marches on forever.
⁷ I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
    the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

⁸ Were you angry with the rivers, Lord?
    Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
    when you rode your horses
    and your chariots to victory?
⁹ You uncovered your bow,
    you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;
¹⁰     the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
    the deep roared
    and lifted its waves on high.

¹¹ Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
    at the glint of your flying arrows,
    at the lightning of your flashing spear.
¹² In wrath you strode through the earth
    and in anger you threshed the nations.
¹³ You came out to deliver your people,
    to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
    you stripped him from head to foot.
¹⁴ With his own spear you pierced his head
    when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
    the wretched who were in hiding.
¹⁵ You trampled the sea with your horses,
    churning the great waters.

¹⁶ I heard and my heart pounded,
    my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
    and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
    to come on the nation invading us.
¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

50 Things that Matter

Part of the reason I keep this blog...besides that I love to write and don't have time to keep a real journal anymore ...is so that my kids can always have a record of some of my thoughts!
I found a little book at a store called 50 Things that Matter and it got me thinking...

50 Things that Matter to me in the day-day life I live:

1.  Jesus' Resurrection.  Christmas is fine and all, but without the living part...well, Christianity could just be another religion.
2.  My husband's unconditional love
3. The fun my family has together
4.  My children laughing

He watched this for weeks and finally got to ride!

5.  Being able to play outside mid-morning on warm days with my kids and  not a being stuck in a classroom with kids that aren't mine
6.  summer nights out late playing in the yard
7. traveling anywhere you can, as much as you can
8.  letting the kids run wild
9.  camping out
10.  hiking to waterfalls
11.  throwing rocks (I have learned to really enjoy this pastime with the boys).
12.  cool nights on the porch swing
13.  walking with J on the driveway even if is short bursts
14.  laughing with girlfriends
15.  having friends who don't judge me when I mess up
16.  loving children that aren't mine
17.  petting animals of any sort
18.  getting lots of good exercise
19. my mom not giving us sugary cereals, soft drinks, cheese puffs, and spaghetti o's growing up!--so thankful!

20.  compassion

first tennis lesson!

21.  having a dad who played sports with me
22.  tennis
23.  encouraging people when I can
24. giving compliments
25.  Popsicles
26.  dancing for fun and silliness
27.  learning new things
28.  good books
29.  Bible verses that change my life, convict me and inspire me.
30.  missionaries
31.  feeling cool river water run through my toes
32. smelling mtn laurel

33.  jumping waves in the ocean
34.  sun therapy after a mid-mo winter
35.  snuggling up with the kids in bed with a book
36.  kissing Cay's cheeks
37. playing sports with Jeb
38.  singing with Molly and her sweet, sweet voice.
39.  a mother in law who will help me keep the babies and really acts like she always enjoys it!
40.  late night chats in the dark with J about all kinds of things important and silly
41.  watching my children learn
42.  enjoying and respecting college students, even though I don't get paid much to teach them
43.  walking to the waterfall
44.  getting muddy in the creek
45.  hearing the river and digging in the sand on the shore
46.  reorganizing things and throwing out junk (I do get in trouble for getting rid of stuff sometimes though)
47.  a husband who is happy to keep the kids for shopping, girls night, etc.
48.  good pictures that make you laugh and weep, too
49.  telling people what you think (yes, I do go too far sometimes  but at least folks know where I stand)
50.  a church that focuses on all the right things (not perfect, but focused)
so I could not stop at 50 and I just left this blog open for days as I thought of them...
51. frappucino
52.  getaway adventures with J
53. going out of your way to invite new people to things and plug them in to friends!
54. try new things...don't be so close-minded towards other experiences/food...or too afraid!
55. good college friends who make you a better person even though they were only with you for a season
56.  making smores
57.  swimming all the time in the summer
58.  saying thank you often and much for big and small things
59.  going to church and loving it ...not just when it is convenient or special
60.  going for a walk
61.  seeing a little baby smile
62.  having a sister who is a friend
63.  my flowers blooming each spring  esp. the ones from Granny's
64.   snow days when school is cancelled
65.  a good find at a thrift store
66.  my mom cooking good meals and having us all sit down together usually

Mildred almost froze in our freezer, sneaks in my car, and has been rescued off the roof.  If he did not love this cat so much, she would be GONE.

Little boys and their legs...Fun Fall weekend!

Little boy leg

Don’t grow so fast...

Those muddy knees, I hope they last.

Don’t get too cool for shorts and boots

My little cowboy I’ll give you roots. 

You’ll grow so fast I hope you know

I cherished these moments , I love you so.

This picture just inspired me to write this pitiful little ditty in about one minute. 

We had a great fall weekend on the farm and beyond.

This week end J  found a baby bunny and chased it down for Cay to enjoy.  Again, Daddy is a larger-than-life hero! As you can see, Spanky (as Cay named him), got plenty of attention his day spent with us and then was released back into the wild where J found him.  He was so soft and sweet!

Then, we went to pick apples with our cousins and enjoyed some muscadiine slushies afterwards. 

Finally, our family spent our Sunday afternoon enjoying our horses. We look about as much like real cowboys as we are riding in our shorts!  However, you must understand that this was the finale of a “sports day” for Jeb and me.  During Cay’s long Sunday nap we played soccer, football, tennis, b-ball, and then rode horses.   Jeb is finally ready and able to ride completely independently and so we went for it out in the big pastures!  At first when Patty had to trot to keep up with the big boys Jeb was really apprehensive, but then he came to laugh and giggle when she had to play catch up!  Next, after Patty-cake and Jeb bonded over their first solo voyage (minus any lead line to Daddy or me) Jeb took pleasure in leading baby brother around the round pen for a while.  Caleb still thought he was big stuff riding a “big” horse and then riding with no parents on Patty in the pen. 

Raising kids is such a blessing-

Jeb was riding home from school recently when he shared something really special with me.  I asked him how it went with a little boy at school that was being a pain.  He replied, “well, I went to him and said, ‘can we be friends today?’ and he said ‘yes’ and so my prayers were answered.  The only thing I prayed about last night was that he and I could be friends and God answered my prayer.  I just didn’t have anything else to say to God because I am blessed and I don’t have any other problems. So, that’s all I said and He answered me.”  I melted to say the least and rejoiced with him and told him that he can talk to God when he doesn’t have problems!  God is so good! 

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.    (Psalm 9:1)

Then, Caleb has his own entertaining going on lately….

Caleb asked me today if after lunch...."can you put Sarah ‘in storage’ so she does not mess up our RR track?"  I thought that was a hoot; he meant the playpen.  

At lunch one day he said, "Mama, did you know one of those little boys on Little Rascals in love with a girl?" I said, yes, I know...that is so silly.  He replied, "NO, that is NOT silly. I am in love with a girl too." I said, who...and of course, he replied, "Mama, I am in love with Lily."  Oh boy. I think we have a girl crazy one. We have not even watched Little Rascals in over a month!!!  He talks about Lily and Jenna S EVERY DAY!!!!

Caleb and Cami

Big bro's in charge

Jonas did NOT like it when I brought home this silly play hat from Wally World.

Spanky

Little Apple pickers