It's Been a While

It seems like I have had Blogger's Block and really nothing creative to say, I suppose.

Since January 28th:

We have had a very mild winter. This is probably the mildest I've ever seen and we have enjoyed it immensely. Chloe even told me one day, "God is spoiling us...he gave us this warm winter so we could play outside" I couldn't have said it better! Being cooped up all day makes for crabby kids (and Mommy).

Abbi has been busy with her new cake making hobby. We are trying to learn as we go. She is very creative and has been doing a good job. She is always thinking of new ideas to try. I wish I had more time and energy to let her create, but we have been averaging 1-2 a month.

It is almost soccer season and guess who Abbi and Hannah's assistant coaches are? Yea, you guessed it! I could really kick my husband for making soccer season even more "busy" than it already is. It'll be fine, but it isn't like we don't have enough to do around here.

We are going on a mission trip to Texas in May to Buckner International for Shoes for Orphan Souls. We are in shoe collection mode at our church and we (among several other familes) will trek down to TX to drop them off, work in the factory there, and give my kids an experience in missions. I'm looking forward to this trip as much as they are, I think. So if you have NEW shoes that you'd like to donate to a worthy cause, they can travel down to us.

Jamie is the preacher out at Mid-Continent Baptist church. I think that his official title is something else, but you might as well call a spade a spade. He is preaching each Sunday there. I think he is enjoying it. It leads for a busy and long Sunday morning for us as a family, as we are now attending 2 churches.

We are in the final stretch of school year 2011-2012, which seems impossible, but true. We'll be finished up by Mid-May and I'm already in the mode of ordering for next year. We are 2 solid years into this and planning for the next year starts to come easier and easier. We have found our "groove" and what works around here. Our school year will begin in July for the next year. Yes, we are going with an alternate schedule, because July ends up being so hot that it is often a waste of days off.

We just surpassed my Daddy's birthday and 6 month mark all in the same week. It is hard to explain how I feel to people, so I often don't. I'm not sure anybody really understands except my family, and that is OK.

Our dog is fitting right in and doing so well. She now knows our routine and minds us really well. She does go spastic when someone comes in the front door, so please don't judge her by that. I swear she loses all sense if somebody comes in the house, but i guess that is normal for kids and dogs:-)

Creative Canvas with Abbi

For Christmas, I suggested to my mother to get the kids a gift certificate to Creative Canvas. I went with Mama, Denisha, and Jordyn a couple of months ago and we had a blast. Abbi went today, because she wanted to paint the sunflower portrait (a Van Gogh copycat). We wanted to be able to take the kids out on a Saturday afternoon by themselves. They rarely get that and it is a treat to get all the attention for a few hours.

Her painting turned out very good! It is now hanging proudly in her room and will be something she can keep.

Lunch at Culvers:



Starting her masterpiece:

Getting to sign the wall:

Can I brag on My Husband?

It seems like I'm always updating everybody else and bragging on the children (and even the dog), but I feel like I may neglect my bragging of Jamie a bit. Not intentionally, of course. He knows how much I love him, but sometimes I just have to sit and ponder.

Jamie has been in my life for almost 24 years. It is honestly had to think of life before Jamie, because I was a mere child. We went to school dances, the movies, and each other's houses until we could actually date. We had some ups and downs in high school. I think there were moments that we both thought about ending the madness. For whatever reason we stuck it out. As angry as he would make me sometimes at 15 years old, we had a lot of fun together when we were together. In all reality, he became my best friend no matter what label was slapped on it.

Our relationship grew, we got engaged at 18, married at 19, and here we sit almost 18 years later. Crazy! I love him more than I ever thought possible. The same man that graduated high school by the skin of his teeth is maintaining a 4.0 status in graduate school. Maybe because he wants it more? Maybe because he is doing it for the 5 of us? Maybe he was just really that smar all along!

The same man that wasn't a Christian when we met (neither was I) is now a minister and love God with his whole heart. Not only does his vocation show it, his life shows it. He has a strong faith.

A few months ago as I went through the most challenging thing I've ever encountered in life, he let me cry as much as I needed, held me against his chest for me to scream into, held me up at the graveyard when it felt like my legs would collapsed under me, he stood by my side (and still is) and was there for my family and me without complaint (because I know he was exhausted). He lets me talk about it as much as I need and I know he prays for me.

He is a very hands-on Daddy and my kids adore him. I sometimes feel like chopped liver, because Daddy quickly gains all the attention when he is home. They miss him when he is gone, but they make up for lost time. He works a lot and always has. He puts our needs first and always has. He is the Daddy that all children wish they had if they don't.

He works hard (darned hard) for our family. We could easily be a double income family, but it just never felt right. God shifted my calling to stay home and later to homeschool, and he supports that, is excited about that, and trusts God (as to I) to provide our needs.

I love you Jamie!

Bring on 2012

2010 was the hardest year I'd had to date. Jamie's job situation was stressful to say the least, we had an abrupt move, loss of "friends", and no home for a few months. It was a very sad year, although we did have some "good" come out of it.

2011 started off OK and we finished our house renovations in June and things were going well. Then in September, I got a phone call that changed everything. My Daddy died and nothing else mattered in the world. 2011 proved that 2010 really wasn't so bad after all, I suppose. I still miss my Daddy every single day and I never realized how much grief resembles physical pain. I don't understand it, but I have to reconcile that I never will and somehow move forward. To say that the last few months have been hard, would be an understatement. Our world has been rocked and will never be the same. He will never live to be old, will never see his grandchildren grow up, great-grandchildren being born, and enjoy retirement with my Mother.

Here I sit at the feet of 2012 and once again, I'm hoping for a better year. I suppose I had the same thoughts last year as we began 2011. In fact, I know I did. Ironic, isn't it? I guess the fact is that 2012 remains a mystery, live each day as if it is your last, pray to God that he will give you peace in your heart for the things you don't understand, tell your family that you love them and smother them in hugs and kisses, and enjoy each moment in life as each day is a gift.

So bring on 2012 and I pray that it is a peaceful one!