Jeb the book publisher

Proverbs 16:24

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.




Jeb brings home lots of pictures of all his friends playing on the playground. He definitely thinks that "the best part of school is playing with my friends..." "School Rocks" is also one of my recent favs! All my prayers have been answered for his school experience this year.


This illustration is Daddy holding a snake while Jeb checks it out (quite a common sight around here).
Jeb has really fallen in love with writing this year at school! I am beyond proud. I especially love my Mother's Day book!







Yes! We recently went camping with friends and I caught the only fish; I am glad Jeb wrote about that incident! Hee!

Oh, son, you will never know how much I love to play sports (see us with football), get in the dirt (see us in puddles), and enjoy time with you (see us sliding)! So glad you captured that in a book that I can keep forever even when you don't want to play with ME anymore.





I pray J always loves words and uses them wisely to encourage others like he did me this weekend! Psalm 19:14 (New Living Translation)

14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Jeb's Fan Club...

We had so much fun last night when most of Jeb's aunts and uncles and cousins (on both sides) came to watch him play soccer! He did a great job playing and giving it his all out there for the Black Knights! Then, the aunts and uncles and us braved Pizza Hut with 7 kids (I had JJ, which is like another cousin)...it was a WILD time! They were good, but they were kids ya know. Jonas had major indigestion...there were a few flipped chairs, dropped plates, hitting, spitting (for fun), going to the bathroom, and I need this or that's...if you are parent you know what it was like! As you can see, I had fun taking pictures of the folks I love with Jill's nice lens!

Jebbers and some recipes I love lately...

I can't believe my baby is 2 today....and he flipped his motorcylcle---they sure do learn a lot in two years. WOW! He has a serious pump knot and scraped up face, but he still is adorable.

Jeb has loved hanging out with Daddy at his shop in the afternoon and on Saturdays during naps. He "helps" and does a lot of watching and chit-chatting. He takes his own vehicle down there (the Artic Cat) and stays for a while. It is cute.

He is the best son and Big Brother I could ask for. He has been pushing me lately (even had the nerve to ever so slightly stomp my foot--I was flabbergasted) and has asserted that he would like to move homes...BUT all in all I enjoy him greatly. I can't belive kindergarten is coming our way. I guess some of the defiance is God getting my heart ready for him to go--hee hee...

I am always making smoothies--this is what I do...

Smoothies:

1 banana
Yogurt
Juice (just about a ½ cup-cup)
1-2 frozen or fresh fruits (I like to save my fresh for just eating so I use frozen for smoothies).
1 cup ice cubed or crushed

Put the ice, juice and banana in there…then add fruit when it is smooth—eat it! Love it, and it is easy to add protein powder if you are hungry soul like me!


Someone brought this to girls night and I LOVED it---

Girl’s Night Jalapeño Dip

2-8oz cream cheese
1 cup mayo
½ c. mexi cheese, ½ mozzarella cheese,
4 oz. green diced chilies--drain
4 oz. jalapeño peppers-drain
Mix above together after you soften the cream cheese…topping below--

Topping: 1 cup PANKO bread crumbs, ½ cup parmesan cheese

Bake 350 for 30 mins…

This week's challenges...2, 4, 6,; 5, 10, 15, 10,20, 30...

Jeb can count to 100 now so then we learned to count by 10's, then 2's and now we are working on 5's....5's has been the toughest, which I did not expect.

We are considering playing soccer this spring? Am I crazy? Well, it is only 8 weeks and by March we'll be ready to be OUT!

Caleb is still working on color's but has now mastered saying YELLOW--which was Jeb's toughest color!??? He can pick out black anywhere and has said blue often...but still he doesn't seem to enjoy learning much of anything. BUT, he does love to read books. Today he didn't even want me to stop to go outside...very surprising. His all time fav book is called, "Chuck's Truck," and he can say that very well. He goes around saying, "Chuck?" looking for the book and even went up to his room in the dark to fetch it the other night!


Jonas is being challenged to paint some around the house--what a feat...he hates painting! Robotics is happenin' and I am teaching again this semester. I have a small class and that is FUN! 13 is like the perfect number for teaching literature and having conversation...and not that many papers to grade either! Yippeee!

I am still working on mopping with a happy heart. No, really, I am.

I am trying to memorize a verse a week with Jebber's.....this is this week's...it is hard to find verses that are kid-friendly versions...I still liked the Message version of it for myself to read...

I used the NLT and even simplified it some for this week:

Don't be selfish; Be humble (which takes some "splanin" as Jeb says), think of others before yourself.

Last weeks verse was from Proverbs: Keep your tongue from evil.
Philippians 2:3 (The Message)

Philippians 2
He Took on the Status of a Slave
1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Today the boys and I went hiking to Spy Rock. It is always in the sun in the morning I love it! Then, we hiked around quite a long way in the woods and found many deer tracks and some coyote scat too...Jeb was pumped. At one point Jeb looked at Caleb and said in his best Bear Griles voice, "This is called TRACKING." When we arrived home 2 hours later they were covered in red mud (they had taken a dump truck and shovels) thirsty, hungry and generally worn out...just the way a mama wants them at noon!

Old pics here...I just got a new camera and am being lazy about finding time to upload the software and get my pics on here...never fear...I am taking pictures they are just not on the computer yet...

Happy 5th Birthday to Jeb!

Jeb had quite a Bday week! First of all, our Bday trip we had planned had to be postponed since he had a 103 temp (See pic of snugglin with Dad and watching "the funny show" AFV). He had lots of cousin fun (see the full Jeep). He rode his motorcycle quite a bit. AND, he has been letting Cay drive him in the Jeep--too funny. He coaches him the whole time. He had a great trip to eat dinner at McD's in Greenville, played on the playground with friends and family, and went to see the lights/animals at Hollywild. He loves it there. I don't think God could have designed a more Jeb-friendly environment. There are animals of every sort. Then, we also had an extra couple treats. Daddy took his BDay off work and shot an 8pt. buck that morning. Nothing could have excited the birthday boy more. Then, we had Bday party at Jeb's school. Daddy and Cay had a fun time meeting his teacher and friends. He loved them being there. Next, he went with Daddy to the cattle sale to pick out 4 new cows to join our herd. Who knows, these could be the ones that pay for his college education...well, the first year anyway. Then, we also got to go to Chick-Fil-A with Nana Mac and Papa D and Kiki and Jacob. His grandparents also decked out "Cowboy James" (as he calls himself when in his full regalia) with some new John Deere Boots from Nana Mac and Papa D and a real cowboy hat from Nana and Bobo. He thinks he is hot stuff. To top it all off, we decorated our tree and put up our Christmas village. Jeb has had a blast and has been sleeping well to say the least! We gave him a wild animal trivia game since he is quite a gamer (well, board/card gamer that is) and a new pump action rifle (fake fake fake of course) and a monster truck crash up game. He is begging to stay home and just "play in the playroom." I can't believe he is FIVE. He has been bringing us joy, laughter and ACTION for 5 full years! I love every minute of being with him...

Jeb's Vocation and Random Thoughts and Random Old Pics...

Random thoughts and a change of vocation for Jeb----

A while back while I was carrying Jeb to church and Daddy was serving I was asking him what he would do to serve God when he was older…like…nursery, singing, greeting, etc…He quickly quipped, “Mom, I am going to be the preacher.” Of course, I had forgotten that. So, then the other day when riding by the church Jeb noticed the cars there and wondered why people were there. I listed off all the folks that work there throughout the week and what they do. His reply, “You mean the preacher works all week?” I said, of course…and rattled off all the other jobs the preacher has to do. He said, “Well, then I am going to go back to being a teacher since they have summers off to camp and be with their families.” His calling to preach God’s word quickly evaporated, huh? Teaching is a great idea…I do hope it happens.

Random Thoughts…

I have been thinking of a great verse to be THE VERSE for Thanksgiving this year...think I found it...
Psalm 116: 12-13 How can I repay the Lord for all His acts of kindness to me? I will celebrate my deliverance and call on the name of the Lord." I like that one.



I wish I did not have to pee all the time. I feel like it is such a pain to have to stop what I am doing all the time and pee! I can’t wait till heaven when I have a normal size bladder! Hee! Does that mean one is too busy when going to the bathroom is a real inconvenience???

Why is the only place I seem to be able to “shop” is Wal-Mart…how depressing…I am telling myself that it is just a season in life and I will be NORMAL again one day…but they do indeed have all you need in life…except Oreo cookie pie crusts...how annoying…

Why is it feast or famine with the rain?

Why do high school students sign up for college classes and then want to be treated like high school students (coddled and spoon-fed)…and then they are really not willing to do college-level work OR invest the time to succeed in college…??? They should just stay in high school if that is what they want!

Why do some people major on minor things…??? Seriously, time could be better spend doing other things…

Why are people actually proud when they say they are never home..they are just so busy…why is being busy something to be proud of?? Strange world…No doubt most ALL people are busy…that can be left unsaid…YET somehow all people (and me too) find time to watch mindless TV and put their kids into things that have no eternal significance YET have TONS of time devoted to dumb stuff..…huummmm…. I love being home some most days (even though J calls me the not-so stay-at-home mom)...I love HOME...it is where all the people and things are that you love most and I treasure the days I don't go anywhere, but can just bask in this place.

Do other Moms feel guilty about not doing fundraisers?? I hate those things and I don’t do them….charge me more if you want…but I don’t do fundraisers. AND I probably will never be in the PTA …just not may calling.

My husbands priorities are just not mine most days..our honey do lists may never be the same??

I have an attachment to bacon and a blanket on my bed b/c they remind me of my grandparents' home. Yes, I love bacon. Many folks find it awkward that a girl would love meat the way I do. Yes, I like good steak when I eat out, I love sausage and I adore bacon on anything.

Why is the wind always blowing when you are near water?

Pastor Greg say that the difference between the church and a country club is that a country club exists to serve it's members....in the church, the members exist to serve the church.

Remember Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

I ordered the book "Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for the Local Church." I can't wait to read it...If you don't buy books at Half.com you are crazy. The books there are never over about 6-10 bucks...even new ones! I also got
"For Parents Only", "Every Woman's Marriage," and "Every Man's Marriage." Thinking of our next small group...

I have always wondered about praying things in advance and thanking God for things in advance since you really don't know if that is God's will..but then again you believe God will answer prayers by FAITH. But I found this verse today about calling things not as they are but as though they were...Romans 4:17--the end of the verse....