Happy Birthday Daughter!

Has it really been 6 years since I birthed my first baby? It seems like just yesterday. The memories are forever etched on my mind as if I am again living them out. Isn't it cool that God gives us those memories of our first moments with our children? And it seems the pain diminishes and we don't quite remember that, which is a good thing also. I can't believe that my baby is 6 years old. The first time I held her she smiled at me. I wasn't able to hold her right away because I had a c-section, but once I got up to my room and daddy brought her to me, I placed her gently into my arms and she gave me a little smile. What a blessing! Now, 6 years later she is reading, adding, subtracting, cutting, pasting and doing all the other things you do in kindergarten. But it is more than the age or the things she does while we do school. H is the most helpful little girl. She has such a spirit of helpfulness. Sure she sometimes grumbles when asked to help yet again, but don't we all!? Just tonight she put away her clothes without me asking her to. She is great at helping out with her brothers, although she also likes to boss them around. She has such a caring nature and is so lovable and cuddly. Sometimes I think we don't love on her enough. She has such an interest in Jesus and things of God, always asking some question that blows my mind. I don't remember having such an interest in God at that age, but I wasn't brought up in a Christian home at that time of my life either. She has such a spirit of gentleness about her. She loves, loves, loves babies. She is always trying to sing a tune, whether something she's heard in church or something she's making up. She just seems to have such joy about her. Her middle name isn't Joy for nothing, after all. She is truly a blessing unto us and I am so thankful the Lord has blessed us by giving her into our family. Without my dear daughter life would not have been the same these past 6 years. Happy, happy birthday my sweet girl.

Bummer

Well, I am not a finalist for HGTV's Dream home. Maybe next year. I would love to move to North Carolina again, although Zach didn't like it there too much. Just the thought of living in that luxurious home...drool, drool. Although I'd have to hire a maid to clean it. And I'd really have to child proof. But it could fit our dozen children that Zach is shooting for! Of course, being in the military, we have a long time before we can plant our roots in one certain area. So, I am looking forward to seeing who the winner of the home is.

Another 'J' Antic

This morning while cleaning up J from breakfast he asked, "Why is your face pink?"

This, my friends, goes to show that I rarely wear make-up! So, I tried to explain that mommy had make-up on, but I'm not sure he got it! Oh well! I will stick to my one day a week make-up wearing! As if I have time to doll myself up every day!

Brown-eyed babes

Since I've been posting alot about J I thought I'd better add something about G and H. Here are a couple of recent pictures of them.


 

Like Father Like Son

Remember awhile back I said something about Zach and J making the same face? Well, I finally captured it on film. J's not exactly meaning his, so its not as good as if he were really pouting, but boy these two look like twins to me!

 

Porcupine Hay-er & a Drawl

Last night the kids wanted to look at pictures of themselves when they were little. So, that is what we did. H kept commenting on how cute she was! She loved to see herself in all the cute little dresses! In some pictures she didn't recognize Zach or I, or even grandparents! Have we changed that much in 6 years??? J couldn't get over his porcupine hay-er (hair). Guess he didn't know how much it stuck up, 'like a porcupine'. The first thing he did this morning was get out the photo album and look at more pictures, commenting on his porcupine hay-er and laughing. I don't know where this boy gets such a southern drawl from! He will say he is almost fo-wor (four), that he got his hay-er (hair) cut and other southern lingo. We don't go out much, he isn't in school, so where he picks up the draw-al is beyond me! It is funny to hear him talk and I get such a kick out of it. I wonder how southern G will sound? Here is a picture of J with his porcupine hay-er.

One Proud Wife

Well, Zach has gotten into boxing lately. I have been somewhat supportive, although my heart hasn't been into it, so I'm really not sure how supportive that is! I just don't know how I feel about slugging people like that for a sport! Anyway, that is not why I'm writing. Friday night he took part in a boxing match called Slugfest. They put him in the heavyweights division because they didn't have enough men in there. He weighs about 186-190 but on the program they said he weighed 199. I was SO nervous. I went to watch and support him and I was more nervous than he was! The biggest guy in the heavyweights was 355!!! I was so worried Zach would get stuck fighting him and get knocked out or something. Anyway, he made it through the first round on to the second round. I was SO proud of him! I was up in the stands cheering, "GO ZACH!!! WOOOHHHOOO"! I am NOT normally like that, I was so shocked at myself but I guess I got an adrenaline rush seeing him out there like that!

For the second round it turned out the guy he was supposed to fight forfeited because he was light-headed, so Zach didn't even have to fight that round and he automatically made it to the final round, where if he was the winner he would win $1,000!!! I am glad he didn't fight the guy in the second round. He was this short fatter kid, but he could punch! So, the final, very last round of the whole night and Zach is in it! I was so nervous and so sure he could beat the guy. Turned out he didn't, but that is ok. The $1,000 would have been nice, but I am just so thankful he didn't get hurt. He ended up busting up the guys nose pretty good- there was blood everywhere! I was just so proud of how well he did!

His first boxing match ever and he made it to the final round! He kept getting knocked down (about 5 or 6 times), but he kept getting right back up and finally he just called it quits. One guy I was sitting by commented on how much Zach kept smiling, through it all (everybody comments on how he always smiles). I didn't think he had it in him to do something like that. Do I want him to do it again? NO! But I am proud of him standing his ground, doing something nobody thought he would be able to do. I think people think that because he's a Christian he is a push-over and all. I think this was partly a way for him to prove himself to people, not like he needs to do that. Anyway, just wanted to share that I am a thankful wife, that he is ok and that the Lord has given him strength and that despite how I feel about boxing I am proud of him for doing so well!

My pictures didn't turn out very well, but here is one of them. 

Come out, Come out Wherever You Are

Ok, so I have talked to people lately who tell me they read my blog! No big deal, but I don't know that you are stopping by and reading it! Please feel free to post a comment and let me know you are visiting! You just click on the 'comments' and type away. You can post as anonymous and let me know in your comment who you are if you don't have an account! Just want to know who's all reading! Sometimes I don't post something because I don't think anybody is reading my blog! So, come out from hiding and say hello;)

Rock Painting

Yesterday we went outside and painted some rocks. Granted, I didn't have the right kind of paint, but we still had some fun. Here are the children getting in on the action:












Here is H, intent on painting her rock:
















Even J had some fun concentrating on turning his rock a different color:
















G was much more interested in trying to suck on the paint brushes!













 

Learning about Liberty

This week we talked a bit about The Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell. Here are a few pictures I took of the children. J has his classic face, showing off the picture he colored of the Liberty Bell. Doesn't H make quite the Lady Liberty? And I had to get G involved in the
action.



 

Flower Power

This is about the only thing in my yard that is pretty. When we first moved in our yard was lovely. I do not have a green thumb, nor time to putz around outside. I do, however, want to make some areas in my front yard a bit more pretty. Right now the weeds abound! But, I love these flowers! I also have some white ones and some lilac colored ones, though they don't stick out as much as these. I see these in abundance down here! This is one plant that I won't be chopping down as I redo my areas (when time and money allow). I just pray it will all look ok when all is said and done. Of course, anything has to look better than how it looks now!
*Note: You can see the 'weeds' in the pictures with the children painting rocks above. I should have tried to take the pictures elsewhere;)

Smiles Through The Trials

Monday's lately seem to be doomed for our household. I am not sure if it is just trying to get back into our weekly schedule or what. Today I dealt with Mr. Cling, Mr. Tantrum and Ms. Attitude. It was fun. Why does it always seem that when you are reading your Word, sure that you are chewing on some new meat, learning to lean on God that trials hit you in the face. And you fail. And fail. Will I ever learn to truly yield to Him and lean on Him so I CAN get it right? Anyway, here are a few smiles through my trials:

• When J gets sad or pouts he gets this look about him. Well, his daddy can make the same look. Tonight Zach was imitating J perfectly on the look and it had me rolling. I need to snap a pic of them together one of these days just so you can see. There is no doubt who's son J is!

• Tonight at dinner H asked what we are going to do when the Pilgrim's move here. She asked if we were moving when they came! It was SO funny! Where do these kids come up with this stuff?

• J tries so hard to be like daddy. You should see him 'put up his dukes' and start punching the air. It is SO cute! He really looks like he's concentrating hard and ready to fight! What out boys!

• G loves to kiss. He puckers up his little lips and makes a smacking sound with his lips. He kisses mommy, daddy, his animals, the wall. He needs to give daddy numerous kisses before bed at night.

• Speaking of kisses, last week J said to me with the most serious look on his face, "Let's kiss!" He just wanted a kiss, but to say it like that...you gotta love them;)

• G is getting into that stage where he says "Hi" and "Bye" to everybody and everything. It is so cute when they do that!

• Tonight we prayed for some Christian widows in Nigeria. H prayed for one of the ladies, who is blind in one eye, to get a new eye and a new husband, because she wanted one! You just gotta love the prayers of children!

Just a few things to make me smile as I unwind this Manic Monday night!!! Thanks for listening, er, reading!

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion.You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness.You're generally good at balancing work and play.When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness.You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism.You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is low.You're a pretty conservative person, and you favor what's socially acceptable.You think that change for novelty's sake is a very bad idea.While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise.

The Five Factor Personality Test

The President of the United States in MY Back Yard!!!

Well, not quite my back yard, but pretty much. Here's the scoop:

Today I had a playdate with a lady I've been wanting to get to know for quite awhile. Normally on a Wednesday I do NOT go out at 11 am, but this was special. H has been wanting to play with the little girl for awhile now, and finally it worked out. So, as we're driving to their house I pass a police car and I see one parked on the road. I'm thinking, "Well, that is weird. Wonder what they're looking for?" Then I see these people sitting on the edge of their yard with a sign that read, "Thank you President Bush". Hmmm.....I'm wondering if I'm in a movie now. What is going on? Now keep in mind that I don't watch TV, I don't really know the local news or anything like that. So, as I'm coming to another 4 way stop I look down the road and see police cars (both marked and unmarked) at like every corner. Ok, now I say to myself, "Is the President going to be here?". I figure that must be what it is and I phone my friend who seems to know all the happenings. She asks her hubby, who is a Marine and he says that yes, the President is supposed to be here. Wow! I was shocked! Now I know after the hurricane he came down, but I always seemed to miss when he was coming. And he had gone to Gulfport and Keesler Air Force Base, but not here.

I am so excited by this point that I call my mother in a crazy frenzy. Typical woman! I get to Betty's house, now keep in mind I don't really know her, and I pretty much run in and tell her we have GOT to go to MY house! You see, about 3 blocks behind my house is this tiny airport. You know the kind, where they fly private planes and give flying lessons. Well, I had put two and two together and figured he must be flying in. So, we grab our 6 kids, throw them in the vehicles an drive back to my neighborhood. We sit in somebody's driveway and wait. Luckily the weather is warm!

Finally we see these helicopters fly in. There must have been 5 or 6. About 5 minutes later the motorcycles zoom by, followed by police cars, suburbans, vans, cars, an ambulance, etc. Which one was our President in??? I'm sure not the ambulance! We were pretty excited and waving and snapping pictures! We went back to Betty's house, had lunch and drove back down to see him leave. By this time Zach was home and another friend and her children had joined us. It was fun. Exciting. It was neat to see the Bomb Squad come and check the mailboxes that were on the street, the ditches, yards, houses, etc. The security was amazing. I didn't get to 'see' him, of course, but I think I did pinpoint which vehicle he was in on the way back. And when the sun hits those windows a certain way you can see in there. Many of the people in there behind those tinted windows were waving back. I have to be honest, I think I was more excited than my kids. H was sad that she didn't get to play at Rebekah's house. Oh well, there's always next time. It's not every day that our Commander in Chief lands in our back yard! Just had to share my excitement! And pardon me if I sound like a child. After all, where I am from the only people that visit you are Toivo and Eino, eh.

Flying in

His Motorcade coming in

His Motorcade returning to the airport

These were the only 2 black suburbans that I remember. I think he was in the second one, but of course we can't be sure! 

Good-bye Mr. President! Thanks for visiting!

Blogger Barf

Well, not sure what was going on with my blog, but I sure am glad it is working again! I was getting some forbidden message. Other blogs were working though. Weird.

It is about 80 here! It is lovely, but I am sure the gnats are awful. One disadvantage to the south are those pesky gnats.

We went to a different church yesterday. We've never really found a church home since we moved here. Not like music is everything in a church, but hymns just don't cut it for us. Well, it has been probably 2 years since we heard non-hymn music in church- not since North Carolina. It was nice to hear some praise songs. They had a bit of a southern twang to them or something, but the people were praising! The church had a special speaker, so we didn't get to hear the pastor preach, but we really liked it. We will continue to go and 'test the waters', so to speak. I just want a church home and some fellowship already! The special speaker was Ashley Smith, the 'Unlikely Angel' from the Atlanta hostage situation that took place last year. We bought her book and had it autographed. What a powerful testimony she has! Now I have to admit that I hadn't heard her name before, or if I had I didn't remember it, but I did know the name Brian Nichols.

Tomorrow I will join a Bible study from the church we were attending and where the children go to Awana. It is called Conversation Peace. I realized I have not been in a Bible study for myself since we lived in North Dakota! It will be nice to be a part of a Bible study again and hopefully it will help me with some of my faults!!!!

Speaking of Awana, J's got 12 Bible verses memorized from his Cubbies book! And he can't just tell you the latest one- he has to tell them all! It is so awesome to see my little guy memorizing the Word of God. And H is cruising through her Sparks verse and memorizing many verses too! She usually polishes off about two a week! I am so proud of them!

I am going to try to make these Chocolate Peanut Butter cookies in the near future. They look SO wonderful! You gotta love Allrecipes!

A Funny

Large Family

A large family, with seven children, moved to a new city. They were having a difficult time finding an apartment to live in. Many apartments were large enough, but the landlords objected to the large family. After several days of searching, the father asked the mother to take the four younger children to visit the cemetery, while he took the older three to find an apartment.
After they had looked most of the morning they found a place that was just right. Then the landlord asked the usual question: "How many children do you have?" The father answered with a deep sigh, "Seven...but four are with their dear mother in the cemetery."
He got the apartment.

March Madness

Yesterday was a fun day at Park Day with our homeschool group. Afterwards we picked Zach up from work and ate dinner at McDonald's. As we piled out of our car (we drove our tiny Focus), a black man was sitting in his truck next to us. He asked Zach if we had 2 kids in there (the car) and he answered, "No, 3". The man began to talk to H and J, then told how he is retired from the military. He then takes $5 out of his wallet and gives it to my children! How sweet was that! I just wanted to cry. First of all, down in Mississippi you normally don't see this kind of treatment between whites and blacks. Second of all, to be seen and recognized positively for serving our country is sometimes few and far between these days. I am proud of my husband for serving in the Air Force!

As I ordered our food I looked at the clock. 4:00. I place my order, and a few people are behind me and place theirs. I see cars go through the drive thru. People are waiting for their food. I stand there. H comes to ask me, "Mommy, how many minutes has it been? Where is our food?". These ladies behind me that ordered had 'special' orders (no salted fries, etc). This worker who looked like she had no clue what she was doing was trying to get them their order. Meanwhile all I have on my tray is 2 orders of French fries and 2 drinks. By this time it has been 15 minutes! This is FAST food people! I am watching as the workers put the same food that I ordered into bags and give it to the people in the drive thru! If you know me you know that I normally never speak up about these kinds of things. But, its now 4:20, H has been by about 3 times asking what is going on, other people are asking to see the manager and commenting on how long I'm standing there. I am furious. I speak up. I tell them I've been there for 30 minutes now (which by this point its gotten there). They are so confused about what foods to put on our tray. How hard can it be? I've never worked at McDonald's, but I could have gone back there quicker than that to get my own food! Finally, after I had ranted and raved quite a bit (I was MAD and I could tell my face was RED), I had my food on my tray. Then I got quite a refund back (I think we only ended up paying for Zach's meal). All in all we were in McDonald's for a stinkin' hour! It was unreal. Oh well, I got my food and it is over now. Supposedly we'll be getting coupons in the mail to eat there for free.

Today is our 100th day of school. H has been in kindergarden for 100 days. I have been formally teaching her for 100 days. Hard to believe. She made a hat and some 100 glasses. We sang some songs. We colored 100 days of school pictures. We will probably play outside again this afternoon, but I'd like to celebrate somehow. Maybe I'll take the munchkins out for ice cream! I am proud of H, for all that she has learned in this time. It is amazing to watch them grow right before your eyes! She was in speech therapy last year and I decided not to put her in it this year. I am glad of that decision, for I have seen so much progress just by teaching her to read.

 

 

 

 

God's Creation

What a gorgeous day! My windows are open all throughout the house. I hear the birds chirping and singing. I hear the bugs humming and speaking. The fresh air feels wonderful as it seeps into my home! The sun basks down upon me and my boy as he sleeps in my arms. Once in awhile I feel a light breeze, as I watch the branches dance to its beat. The sky is so blue, with not a cloud in sight. It is glorious! Spring is in the air on the Gulf Coast! Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day!