Sounds

I am loving our summer break. We've slept in 'till 8 every morning (sorry, Todd, I will TRY to get up and make your lunch at least once this week!), we've relaxed, we've spent time in the water, at the park, and in general, we've just had some fun.

While I am writing this, I am listening to my boys play museum. This is a new one for them. When I asked them what that was, they told me they had set up some marbles to view. They're charging 5 cents to enter, and you have to be the age of 5. Drew also gave me a lucky marble to keep forever. I told him I would. =)

It's kind of rainy here today, so we're hanging out at home for a while so I can do some light housework (laundry and mopping the wood floor clean of Andy's paw prints), then if it's not raining after lunch, we're heading to the park again. Hopefully our friends are meeting us there.

Well, I don't have much to say...I just had to write about what they were playing. You never know what they're going to come up with next. One thing is certain: there is NEVER a boring moment in our house. Until next time, goodbye.

Memorial Day

As we're in the beginning throes of summer, and spending time with our families, I hope you all take a moment and thank God for this country we live in. I praise Him that we have the freedom to worship Him, and to write about Him, like I'm doing right now. I also hope while we're thanking God for this wonderful country we're so honored to live in, that we'll also take a moment and say a prayer for our country, her leaders (and soon to be new leaders), and our troops. I know I am thanking God for each new young man or woman that joins our military. I pray for His protection to be over them, and their families. I also pray that He will give their families endurance they need to be without them. I know several military families, so this is easy for me to do. Join me, also, in having a few moments sometime tomorrow, telling our kids about why this day is a holiday. I've already told the boys that we celebrate this day to honor the people who are fighting for our freedom now, and the ones who did so in the past. I also explained to them that many young people died during protecting us, and that we should take a few moments of silence out of our respect for them. I hope all of you enjoy this day together with your families and with your friends. Join me in remembrance of all the ones we've lost. Love to all.

Drew

Well, if I haven't called to tell you about the character award ceremony in Drew's class, it's because if I talk about in person, I will cry. His teacher is just the most precious little thing ever. She is going through a really tough situation, I promised not to say anything, but she needs prayer so bad. And she is moving to East Tennessee after school is over. Which is probably why I am so emotional. She put so much time and thought into these character traits for all her students, and I cannot tell you how meaningful it is to hear a teacher say these things about your child. It just warms my heart. I am going to write what she said about Drew.


Drew Goodwin: "The character trait I chose to honor Drew with is joy. 'Joy is being happy inside and out.' Drew comes in every morning with a contagious smile on his face. He is so fun to be around whether you are a teacher or a friend. Other boys and girls enjoy sitting next to Drew because he is so kind, caring and brings joy to their lives. Thank you, Drew, for displaying the character trait of joy in this classroom. A person who spreads joy will make a difference in many lives."


I am crying AGAIN. I love and appreciate this special lady so much. Aside from loving Jesus with all her heart, she loves her kids. We will be very sad to see her go. :( On the up side, I feel as if I have made a new forever friend. We plan on staying in touch. It stinks getting so attached to these teachers, I cry just about every year, but this year has by far been the worst. Can you believe what she said about my baby?!?!?! Drew loves her every bit as much as she loves him. She was the reason he got up so great every morning. She instilled in him the passion to learn more and try harder. You should see what she would write on his papers, especially when it pertained to penmanship. She loved praising him, because it made him do better. Above are the two today at the ceremony. Isn't she precious? The other is the class picture. I'm going to go cry some more. Oh, and for being the room mom, she gave the most BEAUTIFUL book of scripture...it's called Footprints for Women, and is filled with scripture. Amazing...

Fireproof

There is a new movie coming out in September called Fireproof. It's about a marriage that's worth saving. I'm going to post the website so you can go to it and take a look. Below is the Casting Crowns video for the opening song in the movie, Slow Fade. Enjoy.

http://fireproofthemovie.com/

Eagles

I read a story once about eagles that I would like to share. Eagles mate with only one partner. They mate for life. They never leave each other's side during this time. Even if one is unable to fly, or is weak, the mate will stay with it and protect it. Once the eagle nears death, and cannot fly on its own anymore, the other eagle will actually carry its mate on its back. Once one of the eagles dies, the now alone mate, WILL NOT ever mate with another eagle.

Isaiah 40: 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

God is good, all the time.

Isaiah

Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, our sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Verse 24: This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by Myself.

Chapter 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Verse 5: I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. 8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it."

Chapter 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Verse 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God , and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Psalm 3: 3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

A Blustery Day

Isn't that a Winnie the Pooh title? I think I remember that movie from my nephew, Devin, when he was a little boy. It is gorgeous outside!!! It was really cool this morning, but after the rain stopped, the sunshine came out and the wind started blowing, and it turned into such a gorgeous day! Jonah, Noah, and I packed a picnic and went to Johnson Park with Sunny and Andy. What was supposed to be a short while, turned into 2 and 1/2 hours. We ate and played and talked, and had so much fun.

I cannot WAIT for school to be out!!!! I have started thinking about making some sort of plans of what all the boys want to do this summer, and I'm getting very excited! I don't know where we'll be going on vacation, or even if we are going on vacation with the gas prices, but I know that whatever we do, they will have fun. I am thinking of days filled with sleeping in, playing outside, swimming, staying out late talking to neighbors in the street, catching fireflies in Mason jars, hanging out with friends, going to parks, going on bike rides, eating picnic lunches anywhere and everywhere we can, going to the zoo, the library for summer reading, does any of this sound good or what?!? I am overwhelmed with giddiness. This is my very FAVORITE time of year!!!!

I read in a magazine article that if you actually take the time to sit down with your kid(s) and ask them what they would like to do over the summer, then commit it to a calendar, that actually seeing in writing what is planned for that day, will keep them from asking ( over and over and over and over and over and over...) "Mom, what are we doing today?" This article said to schedule days like sleep late, and lounge in pajamas most of the day. The writer also suggested giving each child their own special day. Some recommendations were breakfast in bed, that child getting to pick that day's activities, or if it was a rainy day then picking what games to play, or shows to watch. I really liked that idea. Especially when all your little ones are so close in age like mine, I thought it really gave them that feeling of being special.

Of course the thing with doing this is allowing room for change. If a friend calls at the last minute, or if a grandparent wants one of them, then we'll have to adjust, but that's okay. The point was that seeing something in writing helped them feel more structured. My kids like structure and organization. This is also really good for older kids. I know with Graham and Drew, most of the fun of summer is looking forward to the next day.

But right now, our schedule is wide open, and trust me when I say that I cannot wait to schedule things like, go to the park and fly a kite. Or if it's rainy, read one of the classic novels together that I bought today, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Moby Dick. I plan on doing some family reading this summer. Even Jonah and Noah can get into that. I'll read a chapter a day, or more if time allows, and they aren't ready to put it down. I love the freedom that summer brings, and I love having all my boys at home together for some un~interrupted time! They will be gone for one week, though, to Kids Camp, and we'll all be doing VBS for a week, but that will give them some much needed time alone.

Only eight more days on the school countdown.....