A Little Worship...

I love this song. It just so happens to be what we're singing in choir tonight, too. Enjoy!

Fun In The Sun

It's really sad that I think in terms of this blog. I've told you before that I am obsessed with it. Seriously. It's gotten so bad that I take my camera with me at all times. I never know when an opportunity will present itself to me, and how better to record it, than with a picture? So I can then post it on my blog. Hmmm. This is sad, isn't it?

On the way to havin' some fun in the sun. Well, sort of. It was only 70 degrees, but I'd promised 5 boys that I would take them all swimming, and I don't make promises I don't keep!

Graham and Drew...they DO love each other, they really do!

It was freezing. I think that is what Jonah was trying to convey to me through my camera.

See? I told ya. It was freezing. They would swim, and get out, swim, and get out. Poor Noah's lips were blue.

You know your boys are getting to THAT AGE, when they check out every girl that comes near. And check them out they did. I think Graham and DC were trying to push each other into the water here.

They had to feed the geese. And the few ducks that showed up. I won't post the next picture. As they were walking back to Mimi's house, they saw a crushed turtle with all its intestines spilled out onto the grass. Blah. It was gross. And Graham, my little mini me photographer, was just snapping away.

All tuckered out after a LOOOONNNNGGGG day of swimming.

And again...

and one more.

This was at the zoo the next day. They were looking at a lion that was sprawled out on its back like our cats do. It was pretty cute.

Lil Jonah bug just a walkin'.

The Bros. Love them to pieces, I do.

I love this picture, I took it in the petting zoo part of the zoo. The whole day was like this, perfectly gorgeous, ordained by God Himself.

Noah was looking at the little lamb that had just been there. It was precious. I love this shot of him. My little big boy.

On the train, because what in the world would a trip to the zoo be without a train ride? With Pappaw, no less.

Snow cones! Noah got the prize because he was the only one to finish his.

Contemplative Jonah. Doesn't happen very often. Him not talking, I mean.

It was the perfect day. Followed by another perfect day. Today. Each day in our story is a gift. Hope you enjoyed viewing some of my treasures. Love to all.

Good Morning, Glory

It's barely 8am on Saturday morning, and the rest of the house is still asleep. Jonah and Noah spent the night with a friend last night {Jackson}, and Graham and Drew invited a friend over {Chandler}. So with the 3 boys, it's still quiet.

We had the best zoo day ever yesterday. Everything was perfect~the weather, the crowd size, the sky, everything. It was like God ordained that day to happen just for me and my Daddy. All the flowers are bursting with color, and I saw things there in the landscaping that I've never noticed before. And trust me. I've been to our zoo a few {thousand} times. It's my favorite place. I'll post pics of it once I get a spare thirty minutes. {I hate posting blog pictures~it takes way longer than just writing. Because the pics never go where I want them. So hats off to you all who post pics all the time.}

Last night, Graham and Drew had a game. After the game, my sister, Trish, came back home with us. And stayed until 10:30. We sat out on my back deck and talked. And talked. And caught up on each other's lives. I love me some sister time. It was great.

In just a little bit, we've got to leave and go pick up Jonah and Noah. We're bringing their friend Jackson with us for the day. I am 98% sure that when we get done with baseball, there will be loads of water involved in their playtime. Fun times, people, fun times. The magic mixture for fun in the summer is sun and water. That's it. Pretty simple, huh?

We're off to Nana's and Big Daddy's for dinner tonight. Hopefully Mom won't get sick on us this time. :( I had to put her to bed last week b/c she was coming down with something. Well, I have to run. Chandler's mom is coming to pick him up in half an hour and he needs to be up and ready. So. To all of you who read this~have a wonderful Saturday with your family. Whatever that involves. Love to all!

Awe-Summm? Well, Not Really, But I'll Play

Here are the award rules:

1. List 7 things that make you Awe-Summm and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love (IF YOU WANT TO) =)

2. Make sure to tag the recipients and let them know they have won!

3. Also link back to the Queen that tagged you (I guess that is me???).

What makes me Awe-Summmm???

1. I love Jesus more than I love my life. And let me tell you, I LOVE my life. God is so good to me, a sinner saved by His amazing grace. If He can take someone like me, and transform me into who I am today, then He can do it for anybody.

2. My family and my friends are what keep me going. I have the best of both of those worlds. I love them all desperately, and could not ever in a million bajillion trillion years imagine my life without them.

3. My husband. And yes, while he is family, he deserves his own spot. I married the most incredible man, and I wish that I could say that for all the people I know and love. Todd is the most unselfish person I have ever met. He would literally give you the shirt off of his back if he thought it would make you better. I wish I could count all the times he's pulled over on the side of the road or interstate to help a stranded driver. If that ever happens to you, a face like his is the one you wish to see. He makes me laugh. He puts up with me. He gets me. He knows that I am not always pleasant, and he loves me anyway. In spite of. God showed me what His love looked like the day that I married my best friend, the one I laugh with, live for, love.

4. My kids. I have got amazing kids. I don't mean to brag y'all, but they are. I love the little guys so much that on some days, it feels like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. My heart is so full. I love hearing them play, laugh and run. They are my joy.

5. I love God's word, and I love studying it. I am not happy with where I am at the present moment, in terms of faith. I constantly want to be growing deeper and deeper in love with my Maker. I love finding truths in His word.

6. As much as I love my hubby and my boys, I love me some girl time. I have the worlds best girlfriends God could ever bless anyone with. Ahem. Christa. Rene. Leesh. You know who you are, and my life without you would be very boring and bland. You bring me joy.

7. I love to read. I love to read ANYTHING. The Bible, old hymnals, stories about how music was written and what the words mean, fiction, nonfiction, stories and books to my kids. You name it. ANYTHING. I am a huge book nerd. Library nerd. And I am proud of it. :)

Seven blogs I nominate: And yes I can count, but I only nominated six.

1. Alicia~this woman of God is a treasure to me. Though she is no longer local to me, I know she is there for me at all times. She moved to San Antonio a couple months ago, and while we were friends then, I feel like we have since become soul sisters. I love this girl. I cannot wait until she comes to visit this summer. I cannot wait to spend some time with her. Laughing. Joking. Talking. Maybe crying. Like when she has to leave. She's a great example of this: you never know what you have lost until you have lost it. Leesh, I love you to pieces and cannot wait to hug you!!!

2. Debi~my real life sister. Soul sista, as her blog states. She is amazing. She is older than me, and though she's in Florida, I feel like she's always a mile away. We can always ham it up and pick right back up from where we previously left off. She is a remarkable woman of God who just so happens to be raising the cutest nephew and niece a girl has ever seen. I admire her. I admire her strength, and quite honestly, I wish I was more like her. She is the funniest person I have ever met. Seriously. Love this chicka.

3. Jennifer~I graduated from school one year earlier than this girl. I wish we'd been better friends in high school, but let's face it: we were in high school. I love how this girly girl writes. She's charming, witty, funny, and as cute as a button. Her words are always amusing~she even cracks my husband up. I would love to get the chance to see her in person again~hint hint, Jen, if you're reading this~it would be great to catch up.

4. Patty~This sweet lady is a friend from the school where my kiddos go. She is someone I've gotten to know over the past 2 or 3 years, and the more I know her, the more I love her. Her words are always so refreshing. You literally never know what she is going to say next, and I could not love anyone more!

5. Rene~This girl will be my forever friend. We don't always talk. We don't see each other regularly. And yet we always pick right back up. She was the one who singlehandedly arranged for me to have meals delivered to me for 6 weeks after I had the twins. She is the kindest person that I know. It doesn't matter where we are in life~she will always be there for me. I hope she knows I will always be there for her, as well.

And lastly, but not least, my bloggy friend Dawn. I do not know this sweet lady in person, although I feel like I do. We first met through Beth Moore's blog, and then we started {didn't finish :(} a Bible study together last summer. Through the internet. I love reading about where she is in life. She is a beautiful wife, and mom to two of the most precious baby boys you will ever see. I am sort of re~living the boys' younger years through her. Some of her posts make me cry. In fact, a lot of them do. She is unabashedly in love with her Creator, and she loves all things related to Him, and learning about Him. She is an inspiration to all who read her words. God has gifted her with the ability to write. I sincerely hope that I get to meet her face to face someday. I know that if we met we'd be fast friends. And thank you, Dawn, for the sweet words you said about me on your blog.

I have to run, we have a softball game to watch tonight! Todd and the boys are itchin' to get out there on those fields! Love to all!!!

Book PREview #2

Thought I would share this...for you summer readers out there. You gotta love some summer reading. I know what will be in my hands all summer, can I interest anyone else in this one?

Amish Love

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting?

Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here (http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1) about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends.

And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Happy Summer!

HaPpY sUmMeR!

It's official. We are out for summer! If you've ever seen High School Musical 2, at the beginning, the part where they're all chanting, "Summer! Summer! Summer!", that is what I felt like yesterday at 3:55 as I was waiting on that final bell to ring.

We got off on the right start by going to church and hanging with friends, then Graham and Drew invited DC over to spend the night. In just a little while, we're going to pack up and head over to Mimi's house to swim! Even though the high is only 80 degrees. They'll either have too much fun to notice that it's cold, or they'll freeze to death. And if they complain, we'll go back to her house to hang out.

So, rewind back to yesterday. I just about made a complete fool of myself over leaving that school. Mrs. Miles, Jonah's teacher, invited me back to her classroom before I left, but I got so choked up that I couldn't do it. It made me feel better that she did, too. I had to walk away. I did the same thing over Noah's teacher. I had to send emails apologizing this morning. I wanted them to understand why I had to just walk away from them. I hate crying in front of people.

Then to top that off, when it came time for all the 5th graders to leave the cafeteria, they all surrounded me with group hugs. I had a few that hugged me tightly and would not let go. It made my heart crack a little. Because THAT propelled me into thinking about next year, and the fact that this will be Graham's last year of elementary school. And the thought of me walking those halls without him there sends me into tears. Like right now. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it.

Well, enough of that sad stuff. This is supposed to be a happy post because it's Summer!!!! Praise the Lord for sustaining me through these past few weeks! I'm gonna get off this thing and go hang with my kiddos! Love to all!!!

My First Book Review

I am thrilled to be able to participate in something called a book blog tour. It's very simple. I respond to an email about whether or not I want to participate in a certain book blog tour, I get the book in the mail, I read it {or at least start it!}, then I write a review about it. So, if you are uninterested, bear with me.

I am reviewing a brand new book entitled, The Night Watchman. It's written by Mark Mynheir. If you are interested in purchasing this book, please click HERE.

The Night Watchman is about an ex~homicide detective forced into early retirement because of a painful injury. Retired, but working security on the side, he goes to work each day with a bad attitude and a bad hangover. When Ray discovers two murder victims in the place where he works security, he is forced back into work. The only suspect the police have is not guilty, and to try and prove the man's innocence, Ray Quinn unravels a murder mystery so deep that it threatens to unravel the Orlando political landscape.

Full of twisting turns and breathtaking suspense, this novel should definitely satisfy your summer reading craving. Happy Reading!