Today...

Today...I slept in, cooked a yummy breakfast with the family, went to the store - all of us..., came home, took a nap on the couch while the kids played and Mike watch t.v. and relaxed, fixed Spaghetti for supper.

Tomorrow...we look so forward to our Vacation Bible School starting tomorrow evening! It is a highlight of our year. This is Michael's first VBS while serving as the Pastor of Children's Ministries in our church and boy - is he pumped! Our theme is the "Boomerang Express" and we've been singing the songs for weeks at home - we have them memorized - what fun!

Outside my window...a beautiful thunderstorm just blew by. I can see a light rain falling. We've worked recently to sort of dress up the outside/porch to make it a little more homey and it looks great. Now, we enjoy being outside just as much as being inside.

Inside my window...the house is clean, the laundry is pretty much caught up. The children have played well today - laughing and tumbling. Isaac and Abby are under a blanket snuggling after the rain...Jonah is relaxing, watching a movie - a nice evening at home. Getting ready to pop some popcorn.

This week...Busy...VBS, working, my boss coming to review me two days, major renovations at work, two funerals to support friends who lost family members.

What I'm Reading...I'm in transition, actually. I take this reading thing real serious! So, until I find the next read, I am going back and scanning Desiring God, by John Piper, one of my all time favorites!

What I hope...I hope I work as unto the Lord this week, that I am the best wife, mother and mentor I can be to those in my sphere of influence and that I exalt the name of Christ in all I do and say.

What I fear...exhaustion - this is always my breaking point. This is when I am not able to be my best for God and my family. So, I pray that I rest well and keep things balanced.

My dream...to see my kids rock it out for God out in the world...but not be of it!

The best thing...the marriage!

The worst thing...my time management of it all...but it will get better, I know!

I am going...to be excited to see how several circumstances in my life turn out in the next few weeks.

I am hearing...the buzz of the refrigerator, the laughter of my children, the tick of the clock my aunt gave me before she died that is beside me on the table.

I am wearing...gray and silver lounging clothes...comfies!

I am thinking...that I absolutely love these quiet evenings at home. I know that there are so many who thrive in the loud race and pace, but I am content in the peace and quiet...I need it to recover and be still. It is good.

I am going...to try to breathe slowly this week, be my best for Christ. I am going to try to talk slower, drive slower, listen better, manage better, be calmer and just do what I can do in the power of His Spirit!

A few of my favorite things...
1.) my chocolate brown microfleece blanket that I snuggle with every evening;

2.) Orville Redenbacher 94% Fat-Free Kettle Korn

3.) Long, late talks into the night...scriptural conversations about the Godly things - growing, learning, studying, discussing...been having alot of those lately!

Count it!

Although I have heard alot of negativity lately...many nay-sayers, many people finding things wrong with everything - I am choosing a different route! Through the power of the Spirit, I am working on my responses to my circumstances - choosing to be a blessing, an uplifter, an encourager, a positive thinker, a peacemaker, a person of joy-filled character.

I believe it is a choice to be filled with joy! I have had many times without joy - and trust me - to choose joy is far better. It is one of the fruits of a life filled with the Spirit of God. It indicates that I am growing and producing fruit. I want to grow...be more tomorrow in my Christian walk than I am today. Will I stumble? Most assuredly. Will I wallow? NO!

Just like today, tomorrow I may face difficult situations, circumstances, and people. I may have fluctuating emotions, feelings and choices. I may have to take a time out. I will definitely pray. But, I will not allow my daily life circumstances - the hills and valleys of this life - to steal my joy in the Lord!

People will disappoint me...for that matter, I will let myself down!

...Time will fleet...,
...material possessions will break down...,
...challenges will come...
The world won't understand...but I will count it all joy!

Eight...really?

I can hardly believe he's eight...I love him so! He has blessed my life in more ways that I can even explain. He was so delightful, so bright as an infant. He walked at 8 months, ran at 9 months...so fun to watch grow and develop. Now, he has interests, opinions, questions - some I have to pray for answers to. He loves people, loves baseball, loves Mario Brothers video games, loves to play outside, loves his family, loves toast with butter, loves to wake up very early and watch cartoons, and never lets his plush/stuffed purple snake very far out of his sight.

He accepted Christ at the age of 6 1/2 and was baptized. He loves Jesus Christ with all of his heart, prays fervently, and loves his church. He gets excited when our family has ministry opportunities - and participates actively and eagerly on a weekly basis.

His laughter and smile delight me. He brings us such joy! God did a work beyond our belief by bringing this family together...

Tomorrow - Saturday - we celebrate with a trip to
Toys R Us and Billie Bob's Wonderland in Huntington.
We will also be visiting with an elderly couple in our church who are both in the hospital there as well - nothing like celebration and ministry in the same day!
We look forward to a great family day together...

Reading, Riding and A-Little-Broomstick

I was scheduled to be off of work on Friday, July 10th for my July 4th holiday, so of course, we planned to go camping again. We take every opportunity we can to take the camper out - we love it. What great family memories we're making! We decided this time to go camping closer to our families' home places so they could come by and enjoy the festivities. We were able to enjoy spending time with family talking, laughing and relaxing. The kids were able to enjoy fun time with the cousins riding scooters, riding bikes and playing on the playground.

Nana, Poppy, Granny, Papaw, Ashlee, Elizabeth, Tracey, Lonnie, Miranda, Mishaela, Nathan, Hope and Cameron came to visit with us!

The kids rode their hearts out!

The best time - in my opinion - is around the fire making smores!
(or 'snords' as Abby calls them - hehe)

Also, people who know me well know that I am an avid reader. I LOVE TO READ!!!! Now, I am not a fiction reader, mind you. I have only read one work of fiction in the last few years - Redeeming Love by Francine rivers - Wow! What a great book...it changed the way I see the love of the Father for me! But, typically, I am a non-fiction fanatic. And, I love to raid my dad's bookshelf. So, I got to do this on Thursday night, and found this little jewel:

What a thought provoking little book by J.I. Packer. It is a deeply intriguing little book - 126 pages, I believe, chocked full of interesting thoughts regarding the concepts of Evangelism and Personal Responsibility. Whether you claim to be align yourself with Calvinism or Arminianism, this book is a great read. I am part-way through it...can't wait to finish it!

By the way, Abby and I love our new, little camping broomstick...we sweep our hearts out at the campground. We enjoy a clean campsight! It is great to have such a fun, family hobby!

Smoky reflections as I blog by the fire...

As I sit by the fire with my family, roasting marshmallows, laughing, telling stories, talking with one another, smelling the marshmallows and enjoying listening to other families around us chattering, laughing and celebrating, I realize...

I am blessed!

I am blessed to be alive!
I am blessed to be God's child!

I am blessed to be a part of this family!

I am blessed beyond measure!

I am blessed to be able to be myself in this family -genuine - not what others want me to be or expect me to be - just me. I find that trying to live up to others expectations of me is exhausting - daunting at best - and more often than not, I don't succeed at it! I long for times like these that I can rest...be myself...relax!
We have had a great time so far in Pigeon Forge at the campground. The park is full and it has been a refreshing change from camping life close to home. We are fully decorated for the 4th of July, including red-white-blue camper star lights, red-white-blue glow-necklaces, American flag flying proudly from our awning rail, and lots of food to BBQ! We began by taking a walk last night around the RV park, setting up camp and relaxing after a long drive (with mommy having a BAD migraine!) Thank God the headache improved after about 5 hours - not so bad this time;)

This morning, we went to the campground pool...

Abby insisted on wearing "doggles" so she could see underwater.

Jonah and Isaac are learning to swim so well. They love being in the water.

His contagious laugh...it tickles me!

Abby riding her new scooter! What a big girl!

Jonah loves learning to ride his skateboard.

Isaac doing skating tricks.

These kids love each other so much! What fun memory making times!
Now, we are tired...
fading fast...

...dreaming about tomorrow. More camping, more grilling, more swimming, more time together. It's the best of times!