Pictures-Paw-Paws Big Toys

So when we go to Paw-Paw and Mee-Mee's, sometimes....we get to play on the "big toys"

And wow do they make our kids HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!

You should see the sparkle in her eyes and the grin on her face....a true countrygirl!!!

DOUBLE TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had to figure out what Daddy was investigating.....so she instantly copied his actions......

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it that our girl isn't a sissy or prissy.....although she has become very good at growling and yelling in not so lady like fashion.....sooooooooooooooo....we'll have to work on a few things in that area ;)

The little kids love to play baggo with the big kids......but the bags disappear very easily!

Seriously, let me show ya'll how it's done properly as she hauls off with a big swing!!!!
TAKE COVER!!!!!! Monkies on the loose!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously...we are super excited Dad and Mom finally built us all a play room.....*sheesh!

Took long enough!!!

Always nice to hava place to go when it's not quite warm enough out.....and Mom says no baggo in the house....ha ha

My "little sister" I never had ;) Love you Chels!!!!

The Weight of Glory

"In speaking of this desire for our own far-off country, which we find in ourselves even now, I feel a certain shyness. I am almost committing an indecency. I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you–the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism….


We cannot tell it because it is a desire for something that has never actually appeared in our experience. We cannot hide it because our experience is constantly suggesting it, and we betray ourselves like lovers at the mention of a name…


The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things–the beauty, the memory of our own past–are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshipers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited. Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am; but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as for inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness.”

–C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory"

Friends & Fishin'

My dear friend Sam and I went fishing Sunday afternoon and it was soooooooo beautiful!!!

I LOVE our house and am so thankful for the blessing of it, but you absolutley cannot beat the beauty and peacefulness of being out in the country........

I love you Samantha!!!!

What country girls do best.................

Your Car

"Faith should be the engine that runs yer car.....

and love should be the gas that fuels it."

~Great jewels of advice from our Pastor.

Thank you, Pastor Kim ,for all you do for our church.

Thank you for how so selflessly serve us not just Sunday after Sunday and Wed. after Wed......but that you are on call 24/7 for the Lord...and us.

Thank you for preaching The Word and not your convictions...and thank you for encouraging us to do the same. The world is a better place because of the gift of you and your heart to follow Jesus with all your might. Thank you for your prayers that cover our lives and our souls.

We love you and appreciate you so much!

God Smiles Down

Yesterday it poured buckets and buckets and buckets of rain.......and it was our all town garage sales. I decided it wasn't worth it.....forget it. Well this morning it was beautiful...chilly....but beautiful. I figured well, there's probably not much left since it's the last day of sales....but I'll go anyways. On Thursday a few were open and I got REALLY good bargains and baked goods.

Well today I only went to 2 garage sales and got 5 tubs of clothes, 3 free ties for Jase, 2 antique doll strollers for FREE, 1 Lia Sophia necklace for FREE......the secret is this: the more you spend at one sale, the more they will JUST GIVE YOU......I could just dance....God was so smiling down.

One of my new favorite outfits for Ellie.....

2 new skirts for Mommy!!!!

A ziplock baggy of GAP tights for $2......a girl can never have too many FUN socks ;)
I even found nice dress shirts for Jason that were his size and name brand....actually come to think of it, everything I got today was name brand!!!! Who needs to buy it brand new when you can do this?!?!?!?! And then tonite I ran into the retail shop in town to drop off some clothes to make some $$$$ and stopped to browse the $1.99 racks and found 3 more dress shirts for Jase and 4 dress shirts for me!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I got $5 off!!!!! Thank You, Thank You God!!!!! You know we can't afford to buy our clothes at full price so thank YOU for all these oppurtunities to buy for less!!!!

Spent a great evening with my sweet friend Em the other night and she grilled me steak and aspargus....oh my goodness....can we say yummyness?!?!?!??! Thank you friend...love you so very much and thank God for the gift of yer friendship since we were in diapers!!!!

Gabe enjoying his first baseball and glove from Paw-Paw and Mee-Mee.........

Well, it's official.....we are now van owners and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! I really don't know how we survived before it......but waiting a year for the right price was definalty worth the wait!
God blessed us huge once again. I have bought all my cars (this will make the 4th) thru the Obrien Automotive Team and yes, even though they YELL their ads on the radio.....you absolutley cannot beat their service and deals. You know yer at the right place with the right people when they say "Hey, why don't you take this van for 5 days and see if you like it? or Hey, you don't need to pay us for that oil change and brake replacements, we'll do it for you, no cost! or "Here's a free car wash at the HIGH CLASSIEST car laundry mat you ever saw!!!! or as we are leaving in our new 2008 Silver Dodge Caravan our precious sales lady says these parting words: "Love you guys, drive safe, keep in touch." Seriously............these guys are the best!

And our little monkies love the new ride too....although, we may have to move one to the back soon.....alot of tom foolery goes on when they sit this close to each other ;)

Hava great weekend!!!!

Pictures-Birthdays & Cowboys

We did so much last weekend I didn't have room to post all the pictures.......we went out to see Jacob's horse and do "cowboy" stuff ;)

This is a manual practice bull.....the kids thought it was great fun....

Especially when the bullfighter made the bull go......

This is Jacob's good buddy......and cowboy brother....the guy who fights the bull and protects him when he gets off the bull.

Daddy and Ellie.....

Gettin' his cowboy training started early......

We love you Uncle Jacob!!!!

Gabe opening presents at Paw-Paw Doc's house....

More tractor/farming stuff.....he was so excited!

Thank you Paw-Paw Doc......we love you bunches!!!! And thank God for the gift of you!!

Pictures-Munzy & Awards

This morning our high school commemorated our hero Brian Munz...AKA: Munzy...into the PC
Hall of Fame.
You may remember me posting pictures back in July when he tragically died fighting a house fire. This morning we had a very touching ceremony and recalled Munzy stories.

Jason's chorus was asked to be a part of it....great job again to all of them!

The men in blue are Brian Munz's fellow brothers....the firemen. One of the fire wives sat beside me this morning and shared with me a part of that night in July. She said when Munzy went down in the fire thru the floor, he grabbed ahold of one of the firemen's legs. She said still, that fireman, when he goes to sleep at night, feels Munzy trying to grab on and pull himself up. He is still having a hard time and as I watched him this morning, my heart just broke.

If you would, when you read this, please pray for this young fireman, that he would feel God's arms holding him close during these times and that the peace that passes all understanding would surround him. I simply cannot imagine......these men go out there and risk their lives for us daily....every one of them are heros! And let's not forget to thank them.

The bagpipes and the FFA chapter procession was touching too.....Darren Ropp, head of the group, shared some great stories of Munzy that had us all laughing and crying at the same time.
It was a neat morning and just awesome to see the community and the school come together to honor this special young man who will always be missed deeply.

Last night were the senior awards.....Isaac is in the orange.

This past year, Isaac started the Blake Hall Scholarship Fund and last night it was presented to Jesse Zimmerman. Another touching night...... I seriously should not have any tears left!

Blake would have been graduating with this class this year...but instead he will be smiling down from Heaven.

Barb and Isaac both gave short speeches....I was so proud of both of them for getting up there.

Barb is truly a beautiful mother with incredible strength and Isaac.......well Isaac is just a stinkin' good kid. I am so proud of him for so many reasons.....Love you both!

Isaac went last night only knowing of one scholarship he was to receive.....I lost count of how many times he actually went forward.........some were awards, not sure how many scholarships. He is the baby of the family and the first out of 5 of us kids that will be attending college!!! Yeeha!