Flying Freckle

I will not be moved

2008-08-14T03:56:00.004-04:00

Please be in prayer for our family at this time. Marvin and I have seperated... I and the kids have moved in with amazing, god-directed friends who homeschool as well. I am seeking God as I try and figure out what my future holds. I will be starting a new job at an awesome new Italian restaurant in Frisco, Josephines, on the square...working mostly nights and weekends as I have decided to hold tight to my calling to homeschool my children. God is providing all my needs in every way...to HIM all honor and glory....NO MATTER HOW THIS TURNS OUT!!!!

Thank you Jesus for drawing us near to you in this storm. I know where my HOPE comes from...do you? Seek HIM while he may be found!

On Christ the SOLID ROCK I stand.....ALL OTHER GROUND is sinking sand.

I'm BAAAAAAACK!!!!!

2008-05-08T16:52:00.002-04:00

WOW you just can never know how out of touch I have been and felt over these past 5 months with not having internet, or television! It has been a huge opportunity to get some reading done, play more games with family, play more music with family, sit and stare at each other, watch sunsets, sunrises, make campfires, have lots of fun times with friends, ride bikes, make bike ramps, chase our new puppies Woodrow and Gus around, swing in the most amazing tree ever, mow and do work on the tractor, take walks, deal with the mud, and on and on..... NOT to forget all the many hours put in by Marv and kids to continue working on this old/new country home of ours!

Finally after realizing that DSL is for sure not probably ever going to come our way we finally had to get HughesNet. Even though it's a little pricey...it's so worth it! The very first thing I did was check out my favorite blogs and then try and get my own new email going. I don't have time now to share all the amazing, crazy, scary, fun, weird things that we have experienced out here so far, but I plan to get back on here after this weekend with updates, stories, and pictures.

I'm heading out with my homeschoolin' friend Wendy to the Arlington Homeschool Bookfair. This will be my first time and I can't wait! We are so ready and excited to have a weekend away to just be and focus on what next year may hold for our kiddos!

So glad to be back in the loop, have touch with my friends and family, and to see what's been going on in the world while I have been playing little house on the prairie!

We are on the Move

2007-12-30T00:23:00.000-05:00

Well this is it for a while! We have been fixin' up a fixer upper out in the country about an hour from where we live now. Marv found this home in some major need of help and tender loving back in March. It was a foreclosure and also had been worked over by the people who lived there before and the elements of the land. Yes I said land...it's on 10 acres and only has about 5 trees on it. Which means lots of wind, but the breezes are nice out on the porch and we hope to be able to cut down on the a/c that way.

We bought the place and closed in September, and started demolition at the beginning of October. Of course between homeschooling, our cruise, and life in general it's been a slow go some weeks. We have not had to do it all ourselves, although have ended up doing alot more than we intended since the budget didn't quite cover all the pop up surprises along the way.

I wish I could show you pictures right now, but my camera would take hours to load all the pictures I have taken! I promise as soon as I get back on line to share the process from beginning to end and let you oooh and ahhh at this little gem of a home we have found.

I am sad to be leaving Frisco...our home of 6+years, but we will be near, and continue to stay involved in sports and dance for now here. Marv will also have quite a drive each day, but he says it is worth it! I'm glad he is happy and has found peace here where the sunsets are amazing and the work is long and hard...just what the doctor order to keep us healthy!

Our Trip Part 2: Villefranche(Nice), France

2007-11-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

Note: I didn't have time to get all the pictures from this day put on here, but I will come back and add them. We are moving tomorrow and it may be a couple of weeks before we can get the computer on line out there in the wild country so until then...

This was my favorite day of the entire trip! Marv was up and ready early Sunday morning. I on the other hand was sleeping off the nausea pills that got me through the night. He was taking pictures of the coast of France before we could even make out any buildings. The French Riviera was hoped to be one of the best ports because I remember from my childhood seeing a painting that my Grandma Curbo did of the brightly colored buildings there. She never got to visit, but somehow I felt a full circle moment when I got to see the actual buildings that she thought enough of to paint.

We didn't have to get off the boat until a little later that day since our tour wasn't until the afternoon, so we were able to eat breakfast on the boat and then leisurely get on the smaller boat to be taken to shore. I enjoyed taking pictures that day of other boats, houses, and every day scenes from life in France! It was a beautiful Fall day, and helped make the pictures and experience even more perfect!

Neither of us have ever traveled abroad, or knew French, so we were a little nervous. We soon realized that people are so friendly, and most could at least speak broken English. The accents were so fun to listen to! I think it puts a neat spin on our language when spiced up with a french accent. Some words would get lost in translation though, and that would always give us a good laugh when words were misused....more on that later.

We had the most fun going up and down stairs taking us all through the village. I tried and capture some neat things that caught my eye like...

1. EVERYONE hangs their laundry out on their balcony to dry. I loved the colors of laundry blowing in the breeze, and just the realness of everyone has dirty laundry and here it is out in the world for everyone to see.

2. Two well-worn ladies having a morning chat before starting the day at her market.

3. Fishermen gathering up their nets from the morning fishing trip. It all most seemed fake it was so real to see this every day life of the French.

4. Cafes galore...love the easiness of the way people start their day. So simple and unhurried! They know how to enjoy their food, family, and life!!!

We later took our first tour. We got on a tour bus with other people from our cruise and were taken around to see the sights from higher up. We passed by several celebrities homes like Tina Turner, and saw the unbelievable wealth of Monaco, and a neat mid-evil village of Eze. We were able to get off the bus at Eze and take a walking tour of this amazing little village up on a hill. This of course meant many steep hills and steps to climb, but well worth it. At the top we found a cafe and ordered a cappachino, and found a few neat items. As we headed back down the hill to the bus we saw an ambulance rushing up the hill, and later learned that a lady from our group had fallen coming down the steep steps. Our guide came back to the bus late after getting her sent to the hospital to inform us that she had been kilt (killed), but was going to go to hospital to get pickters (x-rays) to make her better. Wow these hospitals over here in France are something else if you can get pictures to bring you back to life!!! We realized that she meant injured instead of killed and that she probably just cracked her tailbone!

The whole time we had to keep pinching ourselves and reminding each other that we were actually in France and not Epcot!!! I could have spent an entire week in this wonderful land. The pebble beaches, bright blue water, brilliantly painted buildings and easiness of this bay was intoxicating to my senses. I will be back someday, but if not for sure I will follow in my grandma Curbo's footsteps and try and paint the scenes that I witness that perfect day in Villefranche!

Our Trip Part 1: Sights of Barcelona Spain/Cruise ship life

2007-11-02T13:35:00.000-05:00

Marv and I were given the amazing opportunity to take a nine day trip to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world in the Mediterranean Sea on a cruise ship. Neither of us had ever been on a cruise before, so we were both excited. I forgot to mention that this trip was F*R*E*E! I'm so thankful to our friends and family who made this possible by loving on our kids while we were gone and encouraged us to go.

Our trip started out on a plane from DFW to Newark for 3+ hours and then heading straight to get on another plane for 10+ hours we got off in Barcelona, Spain. There was bad weather on the east coast so that created delays, etc...but we were thankful to finally get back on ground after such a long flight. I had never been on a plane that long! I must say it compares a little bit to child birth with the swollen ankles and calves for me.

We were able to have a quick breakfast provided by David Weekly(provider of the trip) and then Marv and I exchanged some American money for some Euro($1.50 for 1 Euro-not a bargin!) and jumped in a taxi to head to see the Sagrada Familia Antoni Gaudi Cathedral in Barcelona Spain. Our taxi driver spoke no english at all so we pointed to it on a map and prayed that we would get there for a price we could afford! It was beautiful to gaze at ,but it was so crowded we had to be on the look out for pickey pockets as our guide called them. She spoke english pretty well, but gave us our first taste of many tour guides we had that whole week.

We only had a couple of hours before we had to board the ship so I was snapping pictures the whole way to the port in the tour bus. I was a little nervous about the whole sea sick thing, and tried to be prepared. I think until you do it you just never know how your body will react. I've had some vertigo type issues, and get car sick if I try and read. There was lot's of advice, patches, and drugs available to help with any real rough days at sea. For the most part just getting started out on the waters the first night was sending me to bed...well and I was so pooped from not getting any sleep the night before spent packing. Marvin on the other hand was out on the balcony yelling to me to come here...you gotta see this Tiff...it's so cool! Just sitting up on the bed was enough to make me want to jump overboard, so I just let him give me the play by play of how we were pulling out of port at Spain(same one that Christopher Colombus left from to find America) and heading out into the wild blue sea.

Once on board we got a quick snack...wow the food is amazing and available 24/7! I forgot to pack my wheelbarrow so I was good about the amount of food I ate ,and we walked alot! We then headed to our cabin and began to unpack. We found a plate of fruit (fiber would keep us going on this fast paced trip!) As a reward for getting unpacked we decided to grab a quick nap. Not long into the nap we hear the command that it is time to grab your life jackets and be counted on deck! So we headed with absolutely everyone else on the ship to our assigned deck for a muster drill I thought they kept saying Mustard drill, but anyhow... I was so sleep deprived by this point that I felt as if I was in a deep fog, but Marv led me, put on my life jacket and propped me up against a wall until it was all over. I finally got a little more sleep and took a nausea pill to help ease my stomach. We showered and headed to our assigned dinner time and table at 9:15. We sat with a lively group, all from the group of around 100 people who were on this same trip thanks to David Weekly homes. Many were feeling great and decided to stay out later that night, but Marv and I did the old folk thing and headed to bed!

I will try and post on each day and include pictures over the next week. If you ever get a chance to take a cruise I can highly recommend the Royal Caribbean Cruise line and this specific cruise ship...Voyager of the Seas with Captain Frank. (Marv does a great impersonation of him!)

Buongiorno!

Blue Ridge here we come

2007-11-02T10:04:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few pictures of the boys helping knock out a wall, Daddy ripping out the old a/c ducts in the master bedroom, and our new friend and neigbor's dog Henry the hounddog! Julia is standing in her room, and asked me if I could tell she was smiling from ear to ear about all the room she is going to have. Even with the mask on I could see that gleam in her eyes and knew she was just about to burst!

The demo is finally done and we are entering into the fix up stage of this house project. As always this is taking about three times longer than we had hoped, but now that all the yucky stuff is out of there we can start making it look like home. It is a little bit like building a new house; just with the old shell already being there. We are picking out cabinets, floors, sinks, faucets, doors, rearranging some of the rooms the way we would like, and adding on a gameroom/schoolroom and garage.

The neighbors out there are already being so kind, friendly, and helpful. It's gonna be weird for this country/wanna be city girl to get back out to the country, but I'm up for it. Marv and the kids on the other hand can not wait, and squeal with excitement when it's time to get our "Blue Ridge" clothes on and take the trip to the dirt road and fresh air. It only takes about 10 seconds after the car is put into park to find the kids off exploring and running through the field looking for critters and anything else exciting. There is nothing like being cooped up for these past 6 years surrounded by concrete and neighbors, and then getting to have 10 acres to do with as we please. Marv has great plans for barns, animals, hay, and more animals. I will be happy with this move, and know that my country heart will come back in time.

Y'all come visit us in Blue Ridge. We hope to be in by Christmas! Also would you say a prayer that our house here in Frisco would sell, or at least lease! Not the best time to try and sell a house, but we know God is in the details.

Pedro, Huck, and Julia Roberts

2007-11-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

What fun to have all three of these amazing, well-known super stars come visit our humble abode on halloween!

We just had too much fun hanging out with friends, passing out candy, beggin' for candy, and sneaking candy. We usually go to our church fall festival, but got a taste of getting to be out with our neighbors last year and decided to try it again this year! My kids had never been trick or treating for real as of last year, and we realized that it was an opportunity to get out and see families that we haven't seen in a while since we are now homeschooling.

As you can see from the pictures each child has their own style, and don't mind acting a little as well! Jacob ,my favorite middle child in the world, came up with his own costume. He even climbed up in the tree to find his fishin' pole. I did splurge and spend two bucks on that hat, but other than that he was trying to save his poor ole parents a buck. Julia wanted so bad to be Hannah Montana, but with just getting back from our trip we didn't start looking until Oct. 30th. She was happy with this get up though as she loves to be glamed up. I'm surprised and happy about the way her hair turned out. She looked beautiful and very much like a miniature Julia Roberts! And then there is that first born of mine with the deep man voice that still scares me when I hear it coming from the back yard and think there is a man out there playing with my kiddos! He is in the phase of not going all out, but still wanting to have fun being someone else for a night. We came across this Pedro wig, mustache, and bolo tie kit and just had to have it, since Jeffrey does a mean Pedro impersonation! I kept telling him he didn't need to worry about wearing the stache since he has been growing his own, but dad finally took care of that and helped him shave for the first time the other night! (more on that later)

I'm so thankful that it is now my favorite time of year November through January is all about celebrations of our Lord and spending time with family and friends! I have so much to share about our trip, how the house is going in Blue Ridge, and life in general...hopefully I can find some time to get these posted soon!

Crazy but fun times

2007-10-05T19:09:00.000-04:00

Well I just finished writing out my lesson plans for the next few weeks, and looking back on the last four weeks of school! I can't believe how fast time has flown through all that I feel like I've endured lately. Here's a catch up of what the last few weeks have involved...

I finally got over my hives around Sept. 21st so that's all most two weeks of hives! My wart is finally gone (without surgery Praise God for that) and now I have another one popping up on my right foot, but am having the foot doc take care of it the same way, so it's not painful at all yet! The first couple of weeks was spent either in pain, or doped up on Benadryl to keep from itching. Somehow we were able to still get some great learning and fun times in despite my body falling apart! There is just no time for momma's to stop and heal!

We also have several very exciting things going on around the Jolly house...we closed last Friday on a fixer-upper home on 10 acres in Blue Ridge, Texas! That's right we are moving! We put our home here in Frisco on the market Saturday and hope to sell it quickly, but not too quickly before the house is ready to be occupied in the country or we might be moving in with friends and family. I will have to devote an entire blog on this little project that Marvin found some other time, but he has had his eye on it since March and everything just finally fell into place. It's a blessing from God, and we are looking forward to getting out to the country and stretch out and experience having animals, stars, and beautiful sunsets. For those of you who know me well, you know that I have been digging in my heels for the last few years on moving to the country, but God and Marv finally showed me that it is time for many changes. I will miss the suburbs and warm concrete streets and sidewalks. Landscaping and near by friends, stores, restaurants, etc.

On top of homeschooling, hives, buying and redoing a fixer-upper, putting our house on the market, and studying for my real estate final exam...Marv found out during the first week of school that he earned through work a free trip for two on a 7 night Mediterranean Cruise! I just don't think I can take anymore excitement and big stressful type events going on in our life, but this one I think I can handle! My sweet family and friends are going to be taking turns with our kiddos during this time, or it wouldn't be possible to go! I'll make sure and blog on our adventures once we get back.

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be homeschooling, moving to the country, and taking a trip out of the US I wouldn't have believed you for one second! It is so neat to see how through good and bad times God can be faithful in preparing us for the amazing journey of life that he allows us to live each moment of each day.

Hives and Homeschoolin'

2007-09-16T18:39:00.000-04:00

Well we made it through our first official week of homeschooling. The kids are waking us up at 6:45 when we over sleep ready to go! I never ever in a million years thought that homeschooling could be this fun, much less doable. You see I was always one of the ones that just said I could NEVER EVER to it cause I couldn't do the higher level teaching, have enough patience, or discipline. I was sooooo wrong! The curriculum that I am using (a hodge podge of things) is just amazing! It has been so wonderful to add a family bible study into our schedule, and now we can learn about anything and everything that interest us when it comes to science, history, and art. I was telling Kim what I did for science the first day and she told me I should blog about it, so here goes along with our schedule...

7:00 Family Bible Study (we are doing Matthew right now through BSF)
7:45 Breakfast
8:15 Dress/chores
9:00 Calendar/Weather
9:30 Boys do Math while Julia does Language
10:30 Boys do Language while Julia does Math
11:30 Science/History M,W,F and Art/Music T/Th
12:30 Lunch...if I can get them to stop long enough!
1:30 Finish any school work/chores if needed
FREE TIME

Okay so this is my big plan, but these crazy kids of mine have gone of the deep end and usually don't want to quit! I never would have thought that would happen!

So for Science we are doing a couple of weeks on weather. I bought this neat weather cube station at Lakeshore teacher store that allows the kids to measure wind, rain, temp, barometric pressure, etc... It's been really neat! I also asked them on the first day to write down a question in their science folders that they had about weather. Wow their little brains come up with so many questions it was hard to narrow it down to one, but they did. I had 6-8 books checked out from our city library about weather and then told them to go and research to find the answers. They each ended up writing a couple of pages on all the info they found and then shared with each other. So simple, but man did they really do alot of self teaching and self motivation on this!

Now for the hives part of the week! I have a plantar's wart on my foot and was prescribed a medication that I am obviously allergic to cause I woke up Friday morning itching like crazy and covered in hives! Needless to say after taking Benadryl I was out for the count, but we were able to get our school lessons in by the afternoon! I'm so blessed to have these three precious children who have amazed me and surprised me by their enthusiasm and love for our new homeschooling adventure!

Homeschooling Preview Week

2007-09-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

Well we got started last week with homeschooling, and I can say this...WOW it is going to be so much fun, and so much work all at the same time! I know that with public school there are advantages and disadvantages, and it will be the same with homeschooling. I think hopefully though the advantages will far outweigh the disadvantages. While some things I am still just trying to get used to...like BEING WITH MY KIDS TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN!!! I love love love truly love being with my kids, but after a while we can all get a little ready for some alone time. One great thing we did this summer to get ready for all this togetherness is move each child into their own rooms...sooo that has really helped!

The first week was a preview week to give me a chance to see what each child retained from last year, what they were feeling about this new adventure, and prepare the room and all our supplies to make sure we were ready to get started with the real thing September 10th. One of the things I had each child do was write in their journals. They were to write about their goals for this school year...personal, spiritual, and educational goals. They were to write about their hopes for this new venture. They also were to write about ideas they had about field trips and fun trips that they would like to take. Marvin and I were so blessed by what each of them wrote I thought I would share a part of each of their writings with y'all...

Jeffrey 12 years old/7th
My goals this year are to get better in the habit of reading the bible. I would also like to get better at Math. I will get better at playing guitar also. I am trying to save money for a guitar and other stuff like tithing. Reading the bible will help me in my walk with God this year. Math is a thing that every one needs to know, because in the future it will help you in your job and with every day things like bills. I hope this year that homeschooling will help me be confident, and act better. I will enjoy being with my brother, sister, and mother all of my school days. I hope by being in their class I will learn more about their feelings and also helping them in school. (This is just a taste of the two pages that he wrote!)

Jacob 10 years old/5th

As you know, this year we're starting to home school. I'm going to have lots of fun...and set goals. Get comfortable because this is going to take a while. One of my spiritual goals is to actually pray sincerely to God. The reason? Sometimes, if I'm really tired at night, or in a bad mood, I just say the same thing EVERY NIGHT. "Dear God, Help us have a great night's sleep tonight and a good day tomorrow. In Jesus name, Amen." I mean you gotta admit it is getting kind of old. Okay, next thing, educational goals I have a couple so uh, listen up. The 1st thing is grades. They can make a big difference in school. I'm gonna try to improve my grades because last year wasn't a bunch of sugar and spice. The 2nd thing is paying attention. Sometimes I just look around, other times I day dream. Now to personal goals. The big and only thing in this category is the bass guitar. I want one so badly! (What a ham he is in his writing...I love it!)

Julia 8 yr. old/3rd

I want to learn how to cook. I want to learn how to cook ravioli, spaghetti, and pancakes. I will try to do my best on that. Next, I would like to exercise more often. Like do sit ups and other stuff. I am also ready to be on a schedule for dance, violin lessons, and school! First I think that I want to go on more field trips like to Six Flags, or Sharkarosa, that would be fun. Second, I would like to read the bible more, and learn about Peter, and Esther! Third, I would like to learn lots of history. I would like to find out about all the first ladies and Presidents. I would like to learn about the president's children and their names are. I love to learn about history and want to learn more about it! (I love that Julia wants to learn how to be a momma, and now we will have time!)

I can not begin to tell y'all how blessed and just so thankful I am by reading their first journal entries. The change I already see in each child is a gift from God and I can't wait to see how this year transpires for each of them and for us as a family!

This picture cracks me up

2007-08-30T23:35:00.000-04:00

There is a story behind why the boys look so horrified in the heading picture...

1. What you don't see is that they are praying, and hoping for their friends to come pick them up and rescue them from the 10 squealing 8 years olds at the feet!
2. They "love" their sister, but really mom this is just too much to ask of us...
3. They are jealous of all her Littlest Pet Shop presents, but would NEVER EVER admit it!

The grin on Julia's face is...

1. I'm so excited to have all 10 of my squealing friends around me at my feet!
2. I love it when mom "makes" the boys put me in the middle and gives me all the attention!
3. I can't wait to get my brothers to help me open all these Littlest Pet Shop presents and play with me!

It is just hilarious to watch my three kiddos interact and love so big and real one second and then want to have each other for supper the next! It keeps it real and real interesting around here, and now that we are having all kinds of togetherness we have had plenty of opportunities to get to truly KNOW each other over these past few months of summer.

JCA will begin next week, and the kids and I can hardly wait! Julia would do school year around if I would let her...and I just might! We will begin with testing, and some review to get the brain matter in some kind of shape to actually begin learning again. I also want to take some time to just brainstorm, dream, collaborate, and write out some personal goals, family goals, and school year goals. What do they hope to learn this year? What are their favorite subjects, topics, or fun things to do? I want to really try and have them journal through this year so that we can look back on this first year and see what it was really like to experience this new adventure we are about to embark on.

I also thought we might make our own JCA (Jolly Christian Academy) shirts to celebrate the fun and spirit that we will be learning in. Another neat idea that came to me last week as I was brainstorming all the different things we could do to begin and get ready is go to the library and let each kid get their own library card...well we ended up going to day and man was it just the coolest thing! I found out that our new city library has a homeschool connection that is special just for us homeschoolers! What an amazing network of support and fun! I'm so thankful for all of the amazing people that I have met, have emailed me, or just plain walked up to me and wrote down their contact info so knowing that I would need it!

Thank you Father for your peace, grace, patience, and encouragement through all the other homeschooling families out there!!! Y'all know who you are and I praise God for you each and everyone!

Homeschooling Heroes

2007-08-29T14:58:00.000-04:00

Well it's official...we have decided to homeschool...yes all three kids. It's been one of the first questions everyone asks. What would be the point in only homeschooling one child, or two, and having to continue keeping up with the rat race with the other one...that would defeat the whole purpose... right?

I knew without a doubt when I was pregnant with Jeffrey that I would quit teaching and stay home with him at all cost. Now it wasn't always easy, and I did have all kinds of part time jobs like tutoring, babysitting, mother's day out director, preschool teacher, secret shopper (shhhh! don't tell anyone!), sold discovery toys, substitute teacher, and the list goes on. God has always supplied every penny we needed and it has been a true all most 13 years of learning to trust and lean on the one true PROVIDER. As each baby was born I would dream about what our future would hold...would I go back to teaching full time in the public school, or possibly homeschool, or....and the possibilities can be endless.

Over the past year there have been many things happening that have brought us to seek God in our personal walks with the Lord, in our marriage, in our family, and in the way we feel God wants us to live this life in total abandon to his will and plan for our lives. It was clear that if we continued in the way we were going then we could loose our family. From crazy middle school homework, Marv traveling alot, and just trying to keep up with the crazy rat race of life we literally all most lost us in the craziness of trying to keep up with this world. It's as if we have been feasting on the all you can eat buffet of this world and now we are stuffed and done with this way of life.

We have several friends in our lives who homeschool, or are are also about to begin on this new homeschool journey. It seemed like a big, hard, and scary thing everytime I would consider it in the past. I would always make excuses like..."I'm not disciplined enough.", or "There's no way I could do math in the higher levels!" Now I have learned and see all the awesome possibilities and support that is out there to help me do this. The choices of curriculum have been amazing and overwhelming to say the least, but wow...there are so many choices! Now we will have time to learn and study from the bible, truly understand math, and everything else in our own time. AND the best and neatest part is the creation-based science and biblical-based history. No more having to hope that we get a Christian teacher, and knowing that they still won't be able to bring God into anything they do.

I don't pretend to think that this will be easy, but I do know that sending them to public school wasn't easy either. I can't tell you the straight up freedom and peace that came over this family when we made the final decision to step out of the rat race and take this step. We now have TIME to do anything, and everything that we feel is best for our family. We now have TIME to go see history instead of just sitting and reading about it. We feel like we have been given the gift of TIME back like I think God originally intended for it to be.

We have named our school the Jolly Christian Academy (a.k.a. JCA), and are currently trying to pick out a mascot. I think the HOMESCHOOL HEROES sounds great. I am getting to homeschool my kiddos and help them become the Heroes that they are supposed to be! I don't know if the kids will go for it...they will get a vote, but I think it has a nice ring!

I will be blogging at least once a week now to share what we are doing and keep you up to date on our progress. We covet your prayers and are so thankful for the precious friends and family that have walked with us, prayed with us, and encouraged us as over the past year to help us get to this point in our lives.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Wow where has the time gone?

2007-07-26T14:04:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all! It's been an awesome summer so far~SO GOOD!!! We did make it up to Colorado...I'll do a post on that trip alone with pics later on....and had a super vaca away from the real world. It was beautiful, warmer than I thought it would be, and we discovered doing a vaca for cheap, and actually relaxing instead of beating the roads every day and trying to fit in all kinds of sights to see. Instead we really enjoyed just piling into the car and driving all over mountains and finding neat cabins, rivers, streams, lakes, animals, snow, etc... The views in Colorado have always made my heart go pitter patter...literally sometimes because of the altitude! We did venture out one day and found the coolest, most dream like thing I've never thought you could find in Colorado....THE GREAT SAND DUNES....have you ever? Well if not you've gotta put that on your for sure to see before you die list. The amazing landscaping all coming together as one is really just dream like and amazing. I kept thinking okay God really does have a sense of humor, or was just having so much fun experimenting with this part to see what it would be like to have snow capped mountains, desert sand dunes, and wet lands all crashing into each other....okay well I 'll write more about that later also in another post!

We had a really fun Fourth of July...which if anyone knows me well then you know this is my all time favorite holiday!!! I have great memories of my childhood having fireworks on the lake down in Kingsland with everyone in the area coming to our little area to enjoy. I think it was the crowds of people that I really liked the most along with the picnics and watermelon! This year we celebrated at my brother-in-laws lake house with my parents, mother-in-law, and once it grew dark around 30 people showed up with their own fireworks. We were already enjoying all the fireworks that people were shooting off of their docks...probably 50-100 different shows all going off at the same time (you could tell the doctors and lawyers cause their firework shows could rival a small towns grand finale)...well then when all the friends showed up with their own fireworks then we got to experience the fireworks right above our heads! We topped it off with my dad, mom, and Marv playing some bluegrass on their mandolin, bass, and guitar. It was so fun to sing along and celebrate this great country with our family.

After that I have continued to study for my exams and as of two days ago have finished all five courses and test YIPPEE!...now I hope to take the final state exam by the end of August. We have spent the majority of July having our nephew and niece come and stay with us, helping Amy unpack and get moved into their apartment in Austin, and helping Michelle have a garage sale, pack, and paint her home to get ready for market so that she can move to Austin as well.

The other big news in the Jolly household is that we have decided to homeschool!!! We are so excited and are busy trying to pick out the best curriculum and move some rooms around so that we can have a space for everyone and a space for our classroom. I will post later on the details of our decision. Please pray for me as I try to get everything ready to get started.

I hope each of your summer days have been filled with fun, family, and great memories.

Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy!

2007-06-05T11:01:00.000-04:00

One of my all time favorite songs...and one that I sing often buzzin' around the house is Summer Time from Porgy and Bess. It's a song that I sang with the Howard Payne Choir in college. I just love it, and my kids do too! Even though they pretend to get tired of hearing me busting out this favorite tune of mine!

Summertime is one of my all time favorites because...well the kids are home from school. So many mommas out there seem to be frustrated with summer because it means they have to BE with their kids, but I just love having all my little...or not so little anymore... chicks around me, and not having a real schedule! Now don't get me wrong there are times over these past two weeks that I have thought...okay I'm tired of hearing the fussing, but that's part of growing up and learning to get along. The biggest bummer so far is that I was sick last week. So sick that I literally was in bed for several days with high fever...ugh! We have all had more sickness this past month in our family, but I think we are on the mend now and ready to enjoy getting out of the house and actually doing summery type things. The other different thing about this summer so far is that it has rained for like the past 20 something days now, and we have only been in the 80's! We've been in a drought for the past couple of years and it is so nice to have plenty of rain to cool things off and keep things green! Some hate all this rain and complain, but I say bring it on...just keep the humidity please!

We try and keep summer simple by just being and not running to all the camps offered to truly have some down time!

Jeffrey is doing a football camp and conditioning camp this summer...he says it's time to tuffin' up so I think this will be a way for that to happen! He has grown up so fast in this past year...his voice is super deep, and our whole family is rejoicing to see that he has three armpit hairs now! It's a big deal y'all, and we are all proud for him! Little sister keeps checking her pits hoping that she'll feel grown up as well...bless her heart she just doesn't understand how good she has it now! Jeffrey is also doing a guitar camp this week...he is getting pretty good! In July Jeffrey is going with the youth group and choir on a mission trip to New York City. They will be there a week doing a VBS for a church there, and helping build a playground. I can't believe he is old enough to go by himself that far away, but it will be good to see him experience God working in the city through the things they do!

Jacob is doing a piano camp this week and will be going to children's church camp later in July. He loves playing the piano and fills our home with beautiful music every day! That boy makes me cry with his sweet-melancholy tunes! I will have to figure out how to record and get that on here someday!

Julia is also doing piano camp this week, and may be doing a ballet class later in the summer. Right now though she and Jacob are busy building forts in the game room, playing games, playing school, and getting outside between the rain storms for some trampoline and tree climbing time! We also hope to get some grandparent time this summer. The kids love going to "cousin camp" and spending some time making great memories with their grandparents!

I have been continuing to study for my real estate classes, and have as of this morning finished two of the courses and made A's on the test. Only three more to go and then it's state exam time! We are going to our friend's cabin in Colorado this year for our summer vacation. It will be so nice to get away and just be together in beautiful Colorado! I will make sure and post pictures from all the fun this summer, and from the highlights of our school year soon!

Field Trip to Sharkarosa

2007-05-11T18:23:00.000-04:00

Today the second graders went on a field trip to a place in Pilot Point called Sharkarosa. It was possibly gonna rain today, but it turned out to be a beautiful dry and sunny day! I didn't go since I've been doing my real estate courses this week...bummer! But Marv did get to go! He took the day off to be with her and get out into the country. Mrs. Slomosky was very thankful to have a dad going since her group of boys can get a little rowdy. Julia was just glad that Marv decided to put her before his work for this fun day in the outdoors. I love you Marv for being the most amazing dad to our three precious babies!!!

The drive is just amazing!!!! Rolling hills, trees, and country (we drove through there on our way to camp in Oklahoma) so you know Marv was in heaven just getting to be one with nature in his truck! Some how he took all the dirt roads home so it took him alot longer to get home than it took the buses to make it home! He's got the country fever bad y'all!

I forgot to send the camera, but I know if this one mom goes... there will always be some excellent pictures coming my way...she is a great photographer and sure enough had some pictures emailed to me within an hour after school today! Thanks Cyndy!!!

There were all kinds of neat wild animals there, and from the pictures it looks like Julia and Marv made friends with a camel! I love all the fun faces that Julia is making as they are trying to get just one decent picture! Can't you just see the little thoughts buzzin' through her freckled faced brain as she tries to not be too concerned with where the camel is!

I'm so thankful for fun days like this...great memories are made and time away from the worksheets are awesome! Glad y'all had fun Marv and Julia...momma will make sure and make it next time!

Marv and his fine china

2007-05-08T12:31:00.000-04:00

Okay there are only 11 cups here...I think one is in the dish washer...and I am having trouble getting my pics to sit up straight!!! UGH :)

My man cracks me up! He is so obsessed with everything country, and has been probably since he was born, but went through a time when he seemed to be content with the good ole concrete city life...about 3 years ago Marv started voicing a need, want, dream, and big desire to move back to the country with horses, land, tractors, ATVs, fish ponds, barns, and even stickers!!! He misses the experiences that he had growing up raising all kinds of animals. Most people don't realize what a true country boy he is. I remember when we first meet comparing how we each grew up out in the boons and although thankful didn't really think that we would end up there again. Well as they say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. When Marv got his pick up truck he started itchin' for a horse trailer to pull behind it (ever heard of the book if you give a mouse a cookie?). Well we don't have the trailer yet, or even the horse to put in it, but we are praying hard about that!!! SOMEDAY!!!!

Marv's other favorite thing in life other than God, family, and his truck is BBQ! And not just any BBQ, but CHEAP BBQ at Dickie's!!! He LOVES LOVES LOVES the "fine china" (a.k.a. big, free, yellow cups) that we collect from each Sunday meal that we have there. He pointed out to me just yesterday that we now officially have a whole set of 12 of HIS fine china. He was seriously overjoyed by this!!! I'm so thankful it doesn't take much to make this man of mine happy.

I love you babe and I know that God will reveal his plan for our future in the country!!! Until then we will just keep on watching old westerns and dreaming of the day our dreams will come true! wink wink

Great Weekend

2007-05-07T21:54:00.000-04:00

Well we are finishing off a wonderful three day weekend! The kids had off today I guess for a teacher's work day, or something....I'm not sure, but who cares.....we got the day off! Saturday we all got up fairly early and had cinnamon rolls before the boys headed off to work in some yards to help Jeffrey raise money for the youth mission trip to New York this summer. Julia and I stayed home in our pj's and caught up on dancing with the stars, and american idol...we like them all, but hope Blake will win even though Jordin is getting big votes from the Keller Williams group since her parents are KW agents. Julia and I then got done up to go and sign up for my correspondence classes through the Champions real estate school! I'm so excited to finally have the time and dough to get these classes done....once I finish the five courses then all that's left is to take the state exam! I'm already all most done with one of the classes after just getting started Saturday night! The classes that I have been taking at Marv's office the past 5 weeks have really taught me so much and will help greatly with these classes! I will be able to do this and still be the momma that I want so I can't wait to get started. It will be so much fun to help my friends, family, and clients find the home of their dreams!

The boys came home after stopping off at Lowe's to get some supplies to fix a towel rack, stopped up tub, and toilet paper holder and watched some rented John Wayne movies....the girls were super happy to have something better to do and not have to get in on that one! Julia and I went to see K'lee McKinney's dance recital....fun and man are they good! We had fun singing Hannah Montana and stopping off for a bite at our all time favorite...Sonic!

Sunday was a wonderful day of worship and family time. Jacob and Julia had their choir musical..KINGDOM QUEST. It was a musical about putting on the full armor of God. Jacob had two solos and Julia was on the dance team. They both did super and really enjoyed the choir this year. We came home and caught up on some planet earth on tv...if you haven't seen this on discovery channel...check it out....God's creation IS so amazing!!!

Monday...today....we slept till all most the crack of noon when our eyeballs were just about poppin' out of our head and our tummies and backs were hurting from all the deep breathing! It was good to catch up on much needed rest! Daddy made us awesome waffles which we drown in peanut butter and syrup! We then caught up on laundry and watched Flicka...makes us want horses soooo bad! Someday! Kids still had piano, guitar, and dance lessons so from 3:30 on it felt like a normal Monday. Marv just got home from trying out a BSF bible study...he is gonna start next fall and try and do all 7 years...I may just have to join him....sounds really great!

Casting all my Cares

2007-05-01T14:10:00.000-04:00

I have been really down lately and have been really good at trying to cover it up...except for the few in my innermost circle who I truly feel safe to share with. Today I have received a blessing from the Lord through my best girlfriend, Kim, and then through a sermon by Jack Graham on the radio this afternoon. I don't know why it still surprises me that God cares enough to answer my cries and pleas to him when I feel like I am in the dessert and wilderness, but I'm so thankful for his faithfulness and unconditional love for me.

Sheep are not the smartest animals that God created, and need some major love and caring for. I remember from my childhood hearing about how the shepherd cares for his sheep. He knows how many sheep are in his flock and can even call them by name. He leads them through the gate to safety, and out to green grass and still waters to give them nourishment and rest. He goes out in front of them to make a safe path for them, and they follow him because they KNOW his voice. When one little sheep wanders off the path towards the greener grass it may think they it is safe to separate from the flock for a little while...I can always go back, or at least it is feeling selfish and wanting all the grass to it's self...non the less after a while it realizes that it has now wandered too far and it can't even hear the shepherd, or see the shepherd and flock from all the darkness.

It's in this darkness that the fear can grip you to the point of depression, and your head just spins not knowing which way is up. How many times have I found myself day after day waking up to another new day just trying to hear my shepherd's voice again. I can tell you dehydration sets in quickly and it feels like you may not make it back. The storms of life surge all around and its just plum scary. The enemy wants me to think that I am the only one experiencing this and that how horrible am I for being in this dark place AGAIN called wilderness.

On the radio today Jack Graham said that some sheep are prone to wander and that the shepherd sometimes HAS to break the sheep's leg in order to MAKE it not wander off. He doesn't leave it broken though...he restores it and allows it to heal hopefully teaching the sheep to stay safe and find peace by the shepard's side. This is where I have found myself....broken....weary....thirsty and hungry for the true peace that can only come from my shepherd.

When the shepherd counts his sheep at nightfall and realizes that one is missing...he will go out and search for that sheep and bring it back to safety. He cares so much for each one. I think we begin to believe the enemies lies that we are that one sheep that he isn't going to come for and that he doesn't really care for....wrong...so wrong! Praise God that he loves us with a love that we will never fully grasp or understand. No matter how far we have wandered, how long we have wandered, or how many times we have wandered....HE WILL NEVER STOP COMING FOR US!!! He will allow something to break us though so that we will have to look up. Jack said something about a sheep being cast down on it's back with all fours sticking up in the air, and the only thing to flip it right side up is the shepard. That's where I have been knocked down and sprawled out, wind knocked out of me, and my precious shepherd has come today to pick me back up.

I have been searching for happiness and understanding, but all I really need to search for is HIS righteousness. Matthew 6:33 has a whole new meaning to me today...Seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. These things being the things that we really need in this life...not the things that we THINK we need or deserve. It is in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS that I will find true peace. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety and cares on him because he cares for you!

I have been not only a sheep prone to wander from my shepard, but also like to put up a good struggle and make things harder than they really have to be when he is trying to save me.

Father forgive me for being such a subborn and hard-headed little sheep. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.....I have been humbled O LORD and I praise you even in the midst of this. Thank you for your daily willingness to restore my soul! I know it is in this struggle that I am being made strong, firm and steadfast.

Happy Birthday Julia Sage

2007-04-30T00:06:00.000-04:00

Julia is ocho today!

We have been celebrating pretty much since Friday, and after lunch and doughnuts at school tomorrow we will officially be through with the four days of celebrations! Julia had her first real slumber party last night, and I have to say that all 9 girls got some sleep, got along, and didn't get too sick from all the goodies that are consumed during one of these types of parties! The big presents this year were all the littlest pet shop toys that she got, teacher stuff to play school with, and neat stuffed animals, robe, the whole set of Narnia books from Nana and Papa, and a Hannah Montana cd from the brothers!

Julia's party was done in a simple pink and yellow theme with cupcakes made special from momma (big deal for me!) We had pizza followed by the lighting of the cupcake tree, then birthday song. The girls then decorated a picture frame with stamps (I will send later with picture taken with Julia along with thank you note). The silly string fight never last long, but does take up some time to clean up...I mean....see who can make the biggest silly string ball by picking up all the mess!!! Of course in the end they put all the balls together and made a huge silly string ball for a fun picture! They jumped on trampoline, watched movies, had lot's of snacks, and got to sleep before midnight...I'm pretty sure! The next morning when they woke up and came down for breakfast they all had their party favors waiting for them downstairs in living room...all most like Christmas morning!!! I got a great idea from Julia's teacher to go to Home Depot and cut a dry erase board into smaller sizes...well they each got a pretty good sized board...and you can tell from the pics Julia's board is huge!!! They each had a dry erase marker, eraser, and some candy in the baskets as well. Cheap, fun, and so easy!!!

This morning we woke up to the traditional number pancake to make it official, and opened a few more gifts....a real live webkin from her Grandma Jolly. She was so surprised to open that gift cause we had been telling her for the last few weeks now that they were all sold out! Grandma was her hero cause she got it well over a month ago not even knowing how hot of an item she had gotten her hands on! Way to go Grandma! I have to say it is a really neat little idea of stuffed animal and technology. Today, April 29, also happens to be their 2nd anniversary! So that was special to Julia to share her birthday with her new little terrier webkin!

I'll never forget the day you were born Julia! I wasn't sure what I was going to do with a little girl, but I have to say you have taught me great things, and it's been a blast! I'm so thankful to have someone to share all the girly things with, and pass on my love for being a mommy to. Thank you for the way you share life with all those around you. I will never be the same because of this deep sisterhood in Christ that I have with you. I love that you have a heart for our Lord. I know that as you seek his word, and continue to be real and transparent with Him..you will grow and be blessed as you bless others through your writing and fearless way of living this life with spunk!

pound pound peace!!!

If Mamma is sick...

2007-04-17T09:22:00.000-04:00

Well I finally went to the doc yesterday after feeling just plum rotten since last Thursday evening! It was nice to not have much this weekend so that I could rest, drink major amounts of water, and live on motrin. I was so hoping to just let my body heal itself, but as much as I hate going to the doctor...I finally broke down and was sure that I had some weird, horrible disease that nobody has ever heard of...cause that's how yucky I felt! Turns out it was just a sinus infection. Got a shot in the hiney, and sent off to CVS to get my antibiotic. I'm feeling a little better, but after being shut up in the house for three solid days it was rough doing car pool and our Monday madness of piano, guitar, and dance lessons. Of course daddy who usually meets us at Sonic on Monday nights and takes the boys to music lessons in the middle of all the running was playing in a golf tournament for Rotary yesterday so that meant even more back and forth crazy driving up and down Preston for me. I made it though and am going to get back to real life today!

Boys are doing TAKS test today and tomorrow, so I got up and cooked up a huge breakfast (Leta Mae style-Marv calls it!) for the young uns that for sure will give them all the brain power they need to ace the test! The best thing about TAKS week for the kids and for me is....NO HOMEWORK!!! So that means they can climb that tree, play more songs on piano, trombone, guitar, jump higher on the trampoline, ride bikes, dig in the sand, whatever they feel like doing outdoors! I wonder if I ever did homeschool...how could I be disciplined and make them come down out of the trees to learn? I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing my kiddos up in the tippy top branches of our trees! I'm sure that would get old some day...it's a thought...

Hey Dad, Mom, Michelle, and Amy...I loved our 5 way conversation the other night! We gotta do that more often! I think we were on the phone for like 2 hours! Too fun, and lot's of great deep thoughts!!! Let's all get together soon at the nearest camp ground...I would feel safer having us all around to endure....I mean enjoy the fun together!

Y'all have a super Tuesday, and get those taxes in!!!

WANTED: Comments

2007-04-12T17:34:00.000-04:00

I've been blogging since this summer off and on and find it really therapeutic and fun to get to write about my family, fun, and life in general. I was introduced to the world of blogs by my friend Sonya, who had a friend Amanda, who both had their own blogs. I started keeping up with their blogs and realized quickly that I too wanted to get my own blog. I then told my friend Kim, and sisters Michelle and Amy about this new world. They too got their own blogs! How fun it has been to keep up with their everyday adventures, trips, kids, and being able to see pictures and comments on each day, week, or month... just all most making it feel like we aren't really thousands of miles from each other!

Well as I began to read all the other blogs I found links to so many other awesome moms out there. I noticed that some blogs really had lots of comments...meaning lots of readers, family, friends, and fans. While others didn't seem to have hardly any comments, or even ZERO comments. I kinda felt sad for those people cause that meant possibly several things....they don't have many friends, or families, or fans, or readers. Or that maybe what they were saying was BORING and not even worth a comment. OR even worse that no one was actually reading their blog...therefore what a waste of time unless they were just journaling for themselves! I myself never felt compelled to comment on some of these blogs cause well they don't know me....and I kinda felt like a lurking- peeping tom kind of person...peering into their lives...which I find fascinating...kinda a whole new level of people watching...ya know?

Well now that I'm back on line and really want to take my blog seriously...and by this I mean actually write and maybe even get my own mug up there along with links and just some color. I wasn't for sure that anyone was even really reading my blog unless I got an email, or phone call about it. But I then realized how boring my blog must look, or the things I shared where seen as goofy cause I started getting the 0 comments. OUCH...it hurts....can anyone out there relate with me? It becomes this sadistic kind of ritual where each morning you get on to check and see if anyone even cares that you are alive and bloggin'! I've had other friends comment to me on how they too become involved in wanting to share with the masses, and maybe even feeling like their views and life were somewhat important to those out in the world. I think being a stay at home mom is sometimes a lonely place when it comes to needing that adult conversation and approval that your brain is still working and you can think and have conversations on a higher level than the age of your oldest child!

Okay so then I got the site meter thing...way cool! It made me feel a little better...at least I know that my friends and family are at least logging onto my blog and hopefully reading it...along with others in Peru, Germany, Poland, and Canada just to name a few! That makes my brain hurt to think about how far some of my thoughts are going...all around the world! I at that point then realize I have readers who

a. don't know how to comment(a.k.a. not computer savvy)

b. just don't know what to say to my rants and stories, or

c. like to remain lurkers like I did on so many blogs.

I think I will make it a new policy to comment every time I read another blog just so they know that I actually dropped by and peered into their world if only for a moment!

Okay so now if I have no comments on this entry, or on other entries after being so transparent with you all about how important the comments are to us bloggers then I'm gonna just assume you are laughing your head off at my sad little life and want me to have a bloggers complex! : )

P.S. My mom doesn't even know how to use email much less comment so she is forgiven, but now my daddy does have a clue when he isn't too busy with the bluegrass! Love y'all!

Camping Part 3

2007-04-12T16:58:00.000-04:00

Well the ending to this story of our 5 day camping trip goes like this...

We get back from our near tragic family bike adventure and scarf down some yummy sandwiches. Ya know anything eaten outside in the warm sun can just taste delightful! Jeffrey was in the tent recooping from a very serious bike wreck...thank you Lord for watching over his hard little head...despite the lack of brain usage on his parents part as well! Jacob and Julia were playing around and Marv was in the hammock watching this huge boat, while I was cleaning up from our lunch. I notice the clouds in the sky seem to be getting closer and the wind started to pick up...yet again!... Now all week long we had clouds roll in and roll out along with the wind that never really produced much rain, so I started to just assume that this would be the same way. Each time it seemed like it would rain for the past four days we had to fold up all the chairs, put food in the cab of the truck, close windows on tents, and take down towels off of clothes line. I asked Marv who was still coveting....I mean....watching the boaters loading up their boats onto the trailer from the water , if he could help me put stuff away cause it really seemed like it might be a for real storm moving in this time. Not 5 minutes after getting the last thing put out of the elements the winds pick up fast and furious....oh don't forget the dog!....chunked her into the tent and batten down the hatches.

Now if you have ever experienced a bad thunderstorm in Oklahoma you would know that a tent is not a place that you would want to take shelter from the winds, rain, and hail. This huge, new tent has an entire ceiling made of mesh for great venilation on a warm summer night. The tarp that goes over the top does come down to keep water from coming in...unless the winds are blowing at 60+ and then it just doesn't quite cut it! It didn't take long for us to realize that we were gonna have to grab our kids and Deeds and make a run for the truck...which we did! We sat in the truck for about 1 1/2 hours waiting for the storm to slow down finally we decided on going to get some diesel to make good use of our time.

When we got back to camp Marv and I went to the tent to survey the damage and found several places where the water dripped in and got our beds, pillows, etc... wet. At one point Marv asks me if we should just pack up and head home...now have you ever had a wet soggy tent, sleeping bags, kitchen gear, etc.? The only thing worse than having to pack up all your camping stuff to go home, is having to pack it all up wet cause then stuff can get mildewed! So we just decided to tough it out. That night was one of the dampest, coldest, and longest nights! We were able to spread everything out the next day to let it dry out before sweeping off all the mud and trying to re-bungy cord everything back into the truck!

What a blast we had now that I'm sitting here in my nice, warm, dry home. I'm so thankful for the time period that we were born in. There is nothing like bonding as a family in the great outdoors though. I'd do it again in a heart beat, but could we consider a trailer hon?

Deep Thoughts...

2007-04-11T21:32:00.000-04:00

My best friend Kim got a thinking award on her blog the other day. I must say that even back in the first days when we were getting to know each other she would ask me question after question about how I did my schedule, and why did I do it that way, and how could we do it another way....I had never met anyone who was so inquisitive and thought so much about everything and anything! Well honestly sometimes I would get annoyed and want to just make stuff up, or say...I don't know why I think that...or do that...just because! I now appreciate all the questions and the deep thinking hour to 3 hour talk sessions that we had. If there is anything I ever want to know about, or try and do research on I know for sure the top three people in my life to call has Kim at the tippy top cause that girl can find the answers! Way to go girl! I have to agree that your blog does make my head hurt from thinking so much. I often have a hard time commenting cause I still find it hard to keep up with the conversation going on in your head!

Do any of you ever remember the good ole days of Saturday Night Live (if there ever was such a thing). I wasn't allowed to watch it, but did watch it some at friends homes now and then, and reruns later on. My favorite thing on SNL was the Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy.... they usually were really simple and hilarious statements...and of course I don't remember most of them, but the one that was and is my all time favorite still can make me spurt my drink out of my nose! It goes something like this...(read this very seriously and with a straight face)

I think that in weightlifting

Sudden, uncontrollable urination

should not automatically disqualify you...

Okay well that just shows you it doesn't take much to make me laugh and have a great time, but I can just see the big guy in the stretchy pants having to run off stage. Oddly enough I can so relate...bless the Mommy's hearts who have had all the babies and can't run, do jumping jacks, laugh, or sneeze without having this issue! If you know what I mean! Okay I digress....hmmm...I'll have to go think about that one! No awards please Kim...it would embarrass me : )

Camping Part 2

2007-04-10T20:48:00.000-04:00

As I said before we were able to even fit in the bikes for our camping trip over spring break. The kids had a huge area to ride their bikes around. Gabbie even got in on the action when Michelle and Jeffrey rigged up the hiking backpack thing on Jeffrey to let Gabbie experience the true freedom of having the wind blow through her precious red hair! We were tearing up just watching her screaming at the top of her lungs...yeehaw...woo hoo....look at me y'all...I'm flying! Michelle said she thinks that is the fastest that Gabbie has every gone other than in a car! I was scared to death that Jeffrey would crash, but Michelle knew that he would be careful. He is so good and caring when it comes to that precious cousin!

Michelle and the girls left on Monday evening, so we woke up Tuesday morning ready to try and head to a cool bike trail that Jeffrey found and couldn't wait for us to experience as a family! I literally thought...you know what's a little 30 minute ride gonna hurt. I can do this with a bruised tail bone and all. We started out on this nice, wide, sidewalk type trail that went through beautiful trees, etc....just enough hill to make you not have to pedal the whole time. It was really allot of fun to have all of us out together being active and being able to keep up with the kids! Well then we get to the end of the nice trail that came to a little road. As we stop and look across the road we see a dirt trail that is super small, but there is a sign that says hiking/biking trail. I'm pretty sure it was at that point that my adventurous/athletic (not) husband started hearing the theme song for Indiana Jones in his head when he chimed in with the kiddos-who were already half way up the trail-"Come on babe....let's have some adventure!" So I kicked it into the low gear as my family took off and made it up the first hill without even having to get off and push! Man what a rush, and I felt so strong and confident!

We continued on up and down the trail...hills, rocks, trees, tree roots, stairs....yes I said stairs! Jacob was leading the pack and when we heard screams of excitement we knew that meant something fun and probably super dangerous ahead. Did we stop...oh no....we kept going! We passed a family that was actually HIKING the trail...imagine that....and I overheard the little boy say to his dad...."I didn't know you could ride bikes on this trail dad?!" I tried to keep a smart look on my face as we rode past them and deeper and deeper into the woods. Every time we would go down a great hill Marv would say, you know we are gonna have to go back up that, but it will be fine! Marv's goal was to stay on his bike no matter what. He actually did pretty well...even with no ACL in his knee! It was probably at least an hour and a half into the great Jolly adventure that we found that the trail seemed to just stop.

We could see the lake, so we knew at least that we were still in the camp ground, but no signs, no people, no nothing. It is at this point that I realized several things: 1. Marv I think we are lost! 2. We have no map. 3. We have no cell phone. 4. We have no water, or food. (Remember it was just gonna be an easy 30 minute ride on the concrete sidewalk bike trail!) 5. And no matter what Marv was telling me...we had no clue! Oh yes and there seemed to be some dark clouds starting to form in the distance!

It was at this point that we literally had to carry our bikes up and down the terrain to find some kind of thing that looked like a trail and then we see it....some signs that told us that we had just come 3 1/2 miles, and that the lodge was only 1/2 mile away that way. That meant water, bathrooms, and civilization! When we made it to the lodge looking pretty scary, we sat on a soft couch in the great room and had a treat of water and ice cream! Marv went to the front desk to ask what would be the quickest way to get back to Elephant Rock(since it looked like rain may be coming)....which ended up being back the exact way we just came, or down the state park highway...which is only about 31/2 miles of asphalt. Well after what we had just accomplished...which was really fun by the way until the last 30 minutes where we were sorta lost....we thought... we all decided we could do the easy hi-way part in no time!

So off we go with Daddy in the lead, baby girl next in line, then Jacob, Jeffrey, and Momma bringing up the rear (literally) and watching for cars. There wasn't much of a shoulder really so we had to stay as close to the white line as possible...unless there was a car coming in which I would scream...."CAR" and we would all slow down and head off to the grass. We were making great time and were gonna be able to make it back to the tent in no time until...we got to a part in the road where we got...no joke going downhill at around 20-30 miles an hour. From the screams of delight up ahead we knew we were about to pick up speed, and Jeffrey and I were lagging behind somewhat and saw this as an opportunity to catch up. (Did I mention that none of us had on biking helmets?...big no no! : ( This thought went through my mind as I started picking up speed, and then it happened....

All most in slow motion...and there was nothing I could do to stop it....Jeffrey's front wheel starts wobbling and then he goes flipping in the air and crashes right in the middle of the road on the asphalt! Somehow the boy was able to hang on to his handlebars while trying to use his hand brakes. He landed on his bike...which broke his fall for the most part, and landed on his stomach all sprawled out in the middle of the road. He was yelling...my legs, my legs! At that point I don't remember much, but the adrenaline kicked in this momma and I had him pulled off to the grass and then got his bike out of the road within 30-45 seconds. That's when several cars showed up...thankfully not any earlier, or it could have been really bad! The family that stopped with a first aid kit was amazingly from our town! Jeffrey only had a cut on his thumb, scraps on his shoulder, and some bruises on his legs. I was so embarrassed, thankful, and freaked out all at the same time! Needless to say...Marv rode the rest of the way to our tent...I think about a mile...to get the truck and come get us and our bikes off the side of the road.

We were so thankful to get back to our little outdoor home and have some lunch. Of course Jeffrey took some Motrin and ate his sandwich lying down in the tent. He was pretty banged up, and we watched him closely to make sure there wasn't any internal bleeding, etc... It was super scary, but fun to know that we had just survived one of the greatest mountain biking adventures. Jeffrey's back bike tire/wheel still has a gimp thing going on, and probably will have to be replaced soon! The day was not over yet....that I will save for part 3 of our camping adventures! Until then....lesson learned...always, always, ALWAYS wear your bike helmet!!!

Camping Trip Part 1

2007-04-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

I grew up tent camping for weeks at a time during our 3 week summer vacations all over the good 'ole USA. Our family of six would pile into our latest dodge van that pulled a converted motorcycle trailer turned camping gear trailer. My dad even had us set up with a porta-potty for #1 only thank you, and even made curtains for our van. He also rigged up a bed to go behind the back seat with a foam mattress for napping on our long journeys. I loved helping my daddy set up the tents, etc... I was sure at the time that I was a huge help and he couldn't do it without me, but now I know I was probably more in the way than not! (Thanks for letting me feel like a big helper though dad!) I loved camping...washing my face and brushing my teeth in the freezing rivers of Colorado. Getting postcards, souvenir spoons, and making great memories along the way.

Well.....my sweet hubby also grew up tent camping and so we decided to try and get more camping in for our family this spring. Why not start off big like a whole 5 days during spring break? We loaded everything and I mean everything...including the kitchen sink, bikes, and the dog. The great thing about packing in a truck is there is virtually no limit to how high you can pack and stack your stuff! Of course that does mean that you have to have some skills with the bungy cord. Or should I say CORDS (plural) cause I'm pretty sure we used so many I can't count that high! I tell you if one thing flew off on the highway it was ALL gonna go! Now that would have been a sight! Marv has the same knack that my daddy has for riggin' up stuff and even welded and made this hitch rack a year ago....which came in quite handy for all the little extras I kept throwing in last minute!

You know the thing about camping is that it really shouldn't be considered a VACATION for the mommas cause you have to pack up everything and I mean everything in the kitchen and be prepared for anything and everything that usually can and will happen, but now will be attempted outdoors! If you want to cook a meal of hot dogs, beans, chips, and maybe even a little dessert then you've gotta not just pack the weenies, and buns, but also the mustard, mayo, ketchup, relish, spoons, knives, something to cook the weenies with, paper plates, can opener for the beans, pot to cook the beans in, spoon to stir the beans with...you get the picture! I did precook the brownies the day before at home, so at least those were done, but a little flat by the time I got them off the truck from under who knows what! Then once you finally finish the wonderful meal...it's time for dishes done with cold water from a faucet that in real life you only use to water your plants and lawn outdoors. It was fun to wash each piece by hand and hose and then hand it to Julia...only to watch her set it down on the dirt to dry it off! Too funny, but at the time frustrating and back breaking! Then putting EVERYTHING away...back in the rubbermaid tubs and back in the truck for safe keeping from the little critters overnight! It was pretty exhausting, but I was glad to have Michelle there to help for the first couple of days! It was nice to have a hammock to go to when I found a moment to be still and dream while looking up into the leafless trees! It was peaceful though!

The new tent that we had never actually been camping in had more than enough room for our family of five, dog, and all our stuff. It was hilarious to watch Marv and the boys put it up with all the poles and just to see the shear size of the thing. Marv got a good deal on the tent that is literally bigger than our living room with it's three doors, two rooms, and huge windows! It was a good thing that the winds hadn't picked up yet! Yes the wind was just a beating! We found a great spot out on a penisula type place that I'm sure in the summer is nice to have the breeze. We had great weather the first day and night, but after that it was pretty much non stop wind for the duration of the trip! We now know why there weren't any other people camping around us...they all were smart and crammed in together over by the trees that shielded them from the wind. Oh well we had plenty of room to spread out, and if anyone did try and come camp near us we just told the kids to run around and be loud. That usually kept most from wanting to be anywhere near us!

We had our little tent set up for Michelle and the girls, and a huge tarp between the two that allowed Gabbie to be able to move around with out getting too dirty...although playing in the dirt was on her agenda for the week! Here are some pictures to enjoy and I will make sure and finish at a later date with the adventures of our family bike adventures!

Gabbie is Home

2007-03-26T21:03:00.000-04:00

Gabbie had a cough and the pink eye develop in the last 24 hours before her surgery so the doctors were not able to sedate her. This would normally be impossible to allow the surgery to go on, but since she has no feeling in her legs or feet the doctors were able to do the procedure while she was awake! They did give her some kind of meds to help take the edge off, and hopefully make her sleepy and loopy. She was wide awake and not very happy during the whole procedure though so they had to get done quickly. They didn't end up putting on the hot pink cast since they were in a hurry to finish her up so she could have some peace....I'm sure their ears might have been hurting by this point as well...she does get her lungs from the Curbo side of the family! I was on the phone with Michelle and heard them taking her blood pressure...wow was she was letting them know that she was ready to go home! I didn't end up going down to the hospital since they sent her home by 10:00 this morning! She was only going to have to stay overnight if they had to sedate her, so that was a praise for Michelle to be able to go home and take care of her at home. She was making Michelle laugh at all the silly things she was saying and coming up with from the goofy juice they gave her....so it was good to hear Michelle laughing and at peace with everything. Big sister Maggie brought balloons and a stuffed animal to her so that was the highlight of her day!

Thank you all for your prayers...I believe she is a blessed little girl and God will allow her to bless many in her lifetime!

Pray for our Gabbie girl

2007-03-24T18:26:00.000-04:00

Please pray for my precious niece Gabbie Martinez. She will be going into surgery Monday at Scottish Wright in Dallas. She was born April 16, 2002 and when she came into this world the doctors realized that she had several urgent issues to deal with; one being she he was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. She will be 5 this next April and she is the most amazing little all most 5 year old I've ever known! She is a true red head like her momma and a spit-fire one at that! She will melt your heart the second she says hello. We are so thankful for her and her little life because even with all the difficulties my sister and her family had to go through over the last five years they have shown amazing strength amid the chaos and heartbreak. This surgery will be one of several that she will have over the next year. The surgery on Monday is to release her achilles tendons and tendons in her toes so that her feet will be able to bend at a 90 degrees. This will allow her to wear shoes easier and help with the circulation in her feet.
Gabbie has been asking her momma lately when she is gonna get to start walking like her sister, friends, teacher, and parents. She has thought all this time that she was a baby and that's why she couldn't walk yet. When Michelle had to tell her again that she won't ever be able to walk she just sobbed the saddest cry. It tore Michelle's heart out, but I am so amazed at the way Michelle is able to communicate with her girls and how she always finds the good in their situations. Talk about tenacity! Those girls are super lucky to have her for a momma! Michelle finally told her a couple of days later when she asked again why she still could learn to walk yet and when she could starting learning to walk. Michelle told her that when she was born she was a very sick little baby and that they were just so happy that she was alive. Gabbie said, "I'm alive?!" Michelle answered her..."Yes, Gabbie you are alive and that makes me so happy!" Gabbie started smiling and cheering, "I'm alive, I'm alive just like you mommy, and daddy, and Maggie, and my teacher, and my friends....." What a great thing for me to learn that no matter how bad things seem to be for me in this world any given day...I'M ALIVE and so thankful to my Lord for all the blessings this precious angel has taught me!
Gabbie you just keep on smiling and being a little angel that God shared with us in this lifetime. I can't wait until the day we are all in heaven dancing around the campfire and you WILL be able to walk my precious niece! (Michelle and the girls went camping with us over spring break. It was their first time and it was so neat to see them experience a camping adventure with us!)

Coming back to life

2007-03-23T21:52:00.000-04:00

Hi y'all! I know my precious blogging star, Kim, has fallen on the floor seeing that I am back from the depths and ready to start talking again! Pick yourself up sister cause I've got ALOT to say and share!
God has had me in the shop for some major tweeking and tuning up....well really a major overhaul. My heart, hope, and home have been revived and I might get a little obnoxious cause I'm so grateful and still a little bit in shock of how deep and wide and far God's love is and can go! I never ever thought that I would truely be able to experience God the way I have seen few truely godly women in my life display the real and rare beauty that comes only from the work that God has done in their hearts and lives. NOT saying that I am that women yet, but after what God has taught me in the last two months I'm closer now than I've ever been and I finally GET IT. Well maybe I should say am daily trying to GET IT...where before I just wouldn't even try so much and for sure have NEVER EVER been hungry for HIS WORD. All my life I've sat in church listening and even taking notes...thinking okay this is good stuff....now if I can just get up Monday morning and study this and dig in more, but never would. Call it lazy, bored, not understanding, feeling confused, and having doubts that I would ever really be able to GET IT kept me from living in His Spirit daily and having HIS Power in my life that comes from meeting with God first thing. I'm a little hard headed and God knew it would take a MAJOR crisis to WAKE THIS GIRL UP Y'ALL. Well Jan. 3rd after I sent the kiddos off to school he sat me up on the kitchen counter and got in my FACE. YIKES and PRAISE THE LORD at the SAME TIME!!!! Have you ever experienced God gettin' in your face? It's scary and got me on my face. Over the next few weeks though I was in an all out spiritual battle to save our family and saw the mighty hand of God come down and teach, rebuke, answer prayers....many prayers from many friends and family (you will never know how much you have all ministered to me and us over those weeks...thank you from the bottom of my heart!! You know who you are and I thank my God everytime I remember you!). I wasn't able to stand some days from what God was teaching me and showing me with each new day. I went several days reading the bible(like it was a magazine), reading books, listening to preachin' on the radio...that all just happen to be talking about what I was going through...not a mistake, or coindence....I couldn't eat anything cause I wasn't hungry for earthly food...NOW THAT RIGHT THERE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN ALL OUT MIRACLE, but was fed those days on God's word alone. GIRLS true revival has broken out at the JOlly home and praise God is spillin' over into the kiddos.
My prayer is that the mountain top experience we had on January 20th will never ever be forgotten and that God will use our marriage and family to help others move closer to HIM and receive the same restoration and healing that we have gotten. I'm so thankful for the precious Christian men and women in our lives who spoke truth and held us up when we couldn't hardly stand ourselves.

2 Corinthians 2:3-7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Thank you Father...amen!

Streams in the Desert book

2007-01-11T21:47:00.000-05:00

My friend Kim tagged me to do this...

1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same

So I sit here and grab the closest book...and it didn't even have that many pages...so the next one to it was Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. Great book and when I read it, or My Utmost for His Highest it amazes me how on target it usually is with where I am in my life. Well the date of this page is March 21st, but still somehow God is speaking clearly through this book...

Let us remember that no earthly circumstances can hinder the fulfillment of God's Word. We must look steadfastly at His Immutable Word and not at the uncertainty of this everchanging world. God desires for us to believe His Word without other evidence, and then He is ready to do for us "according to (our) faith."

And now my heart and I are sweetly singing--singing without the sound of tuneful strings; Drinking abundant waters in the desert;Crushed, and yet soaring as on eagle's wings.

According to your faith will it be done to you. (Matthew 9:29)

I'm so thankful that in the midst of craziness, sadness, lonesomeness, and when everything seems total chaos in your life that all we have to do is pray for peace and have faith that He will not only supply that peace, but walk by my side and be with me through it. It isn't always easy to do what the bible says, but I have to remember to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God!

I'm so thankful for the godly friends that God has blessed me with who will lift me up in prayer in time of need and knows that they can expect the same from me. There is a fresh and new freedom that I have experienced as of late in sharing my heart straight up and being transparent. It just has knocked down the walls and barriers around my heart and I am slowly beginning to be able to have faith in God's perfect will whatever that may hold and mean for me and my family in the future!

I tag Michelle, Amy, and Misty

Wow time flies

2007-01-11T17:03:00.000-05:00

I have not blogged in so long and there are many things going on in my life right now that have somewhat prohibited and kept me from even feeling like getting on here...although I check my dear friend's blog daily and a few others to keep up with their lives and thoughts. I know just enough about the computer to email, search on google for things, and help find info for kid's homework. I see some of these blogger's sites that have all the special effects, pictures, links, etc....and it makes me feel a little overwhelmed! I barely get my pics on let alone add others links. Maybe that can be one goal for myself this year is to learn how to have more bells and whistles on my blog. I'm sure I'll be calling my friend Kim for advice soon!

It seems like the holiday season was a blur now that I look back on it, but am thankful that we had great times with family. My sister Amy and her family flew down from Spokane, Washington for a week. Found out right before they came that Ford is moving them back within a year. It can get here fast enough! We ended up staying home for Christmas this year since Julia ended up having pneumonia. We had several all nighters with her coughing and hurting, but thankfully God healed her quickly with two different antibiotics and has been cleared of everything as of Monday. It was hard to not be able to go to Palestine to Grandma Jolly's house, but we did finally get there this last weekend and had an extra long Christmas celebration with them.

I look forward to great things for this year of 2007. I am still working at working out and eating often, but not too much. I fell and busted my tailbone on New Year's Day (funny story) so I haven't been able to walk normal much less go to the gym lately. I know I know I am working on getting in to see the doc and/or chiropractor so that I can figure out if I cracked it, or what. I am praying earnestly about going back to teaching also. That will be a huge thing for me, but it is time for me to step up and start helping save, pay off, and help Marv with financial duties. I have really enjoyed subbing this year...best of both worlds...flexibility while still being able to teach and be a mom to our kiddos. I know that teaching can be good with schedules, but please pray for me as I enter back into the real world. We will continue to have the 6th grade group of Hotspots over to our house on Wednesday nights for bible study and fellowship. We have seen Jeffrey grow and mature so much through this.

Speaking of Jeffrey...he made 1st chair in his trombone section at chair tryouts on Tuesday! He came home also with all A's and B's. We have an 85 in math and for all the late nights helping with homework that's a answer to prayer. He even made all A's and B's on his mid-term exams and that was without any help...so we know he is getting it for sure! Well there is a quick update and I will promise to get on here more often.

A Thankful Thanksgiving

2006-11-30T23:00:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful week of visiting, sleeping in, and enjoying the traditional turkey and dressin' with family! It was so nice to have a break from all the homework, kid's activities, and schedules. I often wonder what life would really be like if it could be like this last week all the time...who decided that a life of family, fun, and togetherness wasn't enough? I guess it might get old after a while, and we wouldn't have progressed as a country if we just kept it the way it used to be, but man I sure miss the gool old days....or at least what I hear about it. Marv's cousins came down from Illinois for a few days of fun. We went and saw Happy Feet (not my favorite movie by far), saw the trains at North Park Mall, learned how to make some jewelry from Alicia, and then went to lakehouse to visit with Darin and Cara before heading down to San Antonio. We decided to take the country road to stay off of 35 (it sometimes can take up to 2+ hours to get through Austin this time of year). Well the road we were on was shut down for over 3 hours due to a fatal wreck, so our 5 hour trip turned into more like 7. We were thankful to arrive safely though and said a prayer for families involved in crash. It was a great time being in the car together and driving away from all our worries!

We actually spent our Thanksgiving at my precious Aunt Jackie and Uncle David's home in Boerne. When I lost both of my dad's parents in the same year the Curbo side of family just kinda seemed to stop. We used to ALWAYS get together for holidays and summers at my grandparents place in Medina, but it was all gone until Jackie and David got a great place in the country for us all to have room to meet. We don't get everyone back, but it is so fun to see how life has continued on and how the little kids are now having their own kids. And so life just continues on.... I got to see one of my favorite and closest cousins (since we're the same age) and met his wife and two precious baby boys. I also got to play games and laugh with my Aunt Janice and Jackie just like old times. My sister and I swear we are turning out to be them!!! It's so fun to sit around the table again sharing, talking, laughing, and having deep discussions about politics and religion, and the way the world is going today. What is amazing though is how we can all either have similar opinions, or totally disagree, but we all leave loving and knowing that there is a bigger picture to this life and the way that we are called, or choose to live it.

I love my Curbo side of family and how we have survived even though we don't have my grandparents here on earth to hold us all together anymore. I'm certain that they are in heaven helping us along though and keeping the kinship fires burning with us as we make time and sacrifice to get together!

The good old days

2006-11-20T00:36:00.000-05:00

We had the best time going back for Howard Payne's homecoming weekend and seeing my roommate Audra and her hubby Daniel and kids! It was the first time that we have ever taken our kids to see where it all started for Marv and me! What a fun day of remembering....
We met the DeVinney's at our favorite place to eat as students in Brownwood....Underwood's BBQ!
Julia and Madeline are discussing how they will decorate their room when they come to HPU!!! They hit it off really well!

I saved my cheat meal for the week for Underwood's and man was it worth it!

Marv and I first sat next to each other at a concert on the first weekend of fish camp. I never could have dreamed that our three wonderful kiddos would be sitting on the same steps all most 20 years later!

Marv's dorm was Jennings Hall. I used to throw rocks at his window to get him to come down and meet me....before cell phones y'all! Man that makes me sound and feel old!

I lived right across the street in Veda Hodge Hall! The same dorm that my own mom lived in when she was in college! Did I mention that my parents also met at HPU back in the late 60's?

This is a new gate that blocks off the main drag down the middle of the campus.

The top 3rd floor balcony of the Presidents Mansion is where Marv proposed to me with his roommate Asa's help! It's a long story, but a great one! This happens to be my other roommates home (Julie Newbury~her dad was the pres.) We also met for the very first time in the president's student apartment that is in the backyard of this home! How ironic is that. We just realized that as we were standing to let Jeffrey take this picture for us! God's plans are so neat!

Sting 'em Jackets!

Wonder if he will meet his future mate in this very spot in a few years!

Our very first home....married students housing. We loved our little duplex! The yard looks exactly the same as it did 15 years ago!!!

Tiff and Audra....we missed you Julie and Brian!

Marv and I used to walk down this sidewalk to class, etc....

The first time we ever kissed was in this very spot! WAWOW!!!

Marv would walk me to the bottom of the stairs to say good-night. I also kept him waiting many minutes over the three years that we would be on our way to dinner, class, or a date!!!

Trick or Treat 2006

2006-11-20T00:07:00.000-05:00

What a bunch of hams! They said mom just take some pictures and we'll do some acting! These are my afro brothas (brothers, but pronounced the way I spelled it for the teachers in the family), and my hollywood star....HOLLYWOOD!!!

This was my kid's first year ever to hand out candy to people at our house. We have always gone to our church fall festival, so we were never home to do the traditional type trick or treating, etc... I thought Julia was going to attack the people coming to our door she was just so excited!

We finally set out for our friends and neighbors homes in our hood! Jacob was battling asthma so we had to take it easy with him since it was cold, but man it was so fun even for me! I have never been trick or treating either since I grew up in the boon docks!

The boys decided this year that they were getting too old for the full costume, so they went with these fun wigs and funky glasses for their costumes this year. Righteous....doodley, doodley, doot, do as they say from the Barnyard movie with a little Napolean mixed in!

Peace bro!

Sugar for the brothas!

I let Julia wear my newest diamond! She wishes and so do I!

Awwww they do love each other!

Ready to help make some cavitites!!! This was the best Halloween ever! We handed out candy for an hour, went around to houses for an hour, and then went to our church for an hour to work a booth with our sunday school and let the kids do all the fun stuff there. I think next year the kids have all voted to do more of running around the neighborhood. It was so fun to see all of our friends out. We even had block parties and people were grilling out serving to everyone who came up to their home! What a great opportunity to really feel like a kid again!

My Fridge

2006-11-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

Okay I finally got around to taking some pics of my fridge for Kim~who tagged me. I guess it's just like any other fridge full of fun memories, friends, and families. Not to mention the vaca magnets, business and informational magnets, and kid's art work. Notice my pile o stuff that is hidden somewhat from my fridge. Flylady wouldn't be happy with this pile of clutter, but sometimes it's the only way to function until I have time to fling it. Funny thing about this fridge is that we bought it from one of Marv's clients for cheap cheap. We were so excited to be getting a stainless steal side by side. Little did I know until I tried to put up my FIRST of MANY pictures that the front of the fridge doesn't hold any type of magnet! So I can only utilize the sides which makes me keep the front clean and neat looking the way Marv loves it! Too funny! He was always fussin' at me for junkin' up the fridge and now he found a way short of taping stuff to it~now that's an idea!!!

I tag Michelle and Amy my sisters. Show me the fridge!

It is Well with my Soul!

2006-11-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

I have this song playing right now over and over on my cd player in my kitchen. It is the version sung by Natalie Grant...who was at the Women of Faith conference this summer. It fills my entire heart, body, and soul with peace and makes me want to shout HALLELUJAH to the neighbors who pass by and may see me singing along and worshippin' our Lord! I am so amazed as I look back over this first semester of middle school, fourth grade, and second to think of what God has brought us through. I only WISH that I could have gone under it, or around it, or over it, but NO~ I HAD to go THROUGH it ~with and by his strength and grace only Y'all!!!

I am amazed at how much our life and little family have changed and been through with the onset of our pre-teen's struggles at school and the hormones! It was something that I have always heard about, and even remember going through (although at a much later age), but you just can't really appreciate it until you are in the midst of it. I'm perplexed, surprised, frustrated, puzzled, and just in awe at the true changes that can occur when your precious baby can seemingly wake up one morning with a crackling voice, stinky pits, and an attitude that just won't stop even when the cows come home!!! My prayer life is about to pick up speed, and I have a book on order at Barnes and Nobles that my dear friend Kim has told me about...AGE OF OPPORTUNITY by Tripp. I know that Jeffrey and I are very much alike, and that it literally kills me to see him struggling cause I know that he got all that from me. Marv has been a great buffer, and rides in to save the day...daily....with math homework, and dealing with the TUDE. I'm so thankful for his wisdom and unconditional love! He helps me to try and remember to laugh instead of yellin' when the mental school child is in full gear, and I've got nothing left to even TRY and understand what is going through the boy's head!

I'm just so thankful for the times that sanity creeps back in, and reminds me that he still is my precious son just trying to break out of this painful coocoon time of life. It's not pretty, but it will be so worth it Lord! IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL thanks to the hope that I have for his future in YOU O LORD!

He is doing so well in band on the trombone, which Marv is so excited that he is following in his footsteps. He is also doing great with his guitar, and just began his last season of basketball with a team of friends that have played together since second grade. He has grown so tall, so we are hoping that will be an advantage for him this season. Jacob is loving his fourth grade school year with all his friends. He is such a friendly little guy, who is so much fun to watch at school. He just comes alive, and is ready to talk to anyone that will listen. It's neat to see him really excel in his piano lessons this year. He had a fall piano recital, and played a duet with his teacher. She is from Russia and has been great for Jacob pushing him to do amazing things! Marv and I got to sit in on one of his lessons, and couldn't believe all the things that she taught him in just 30 minutes on a new song. He was playing the thing by the end, and we were both in awe! He also does and hour of theory before his private lesson, so he is really going to be able to write his own music down soon! He is also going to play basketball this year with a new group of friends from his school through the Y. They are so excited, and it should be fun! NEWS FLASH....Jacob just came home from church choir practice and shared that he got a solo in our church Christmas program! He will sing his solo and then the adult choir will join in! How exciting!!

Julia is our little writer, which she did not get from me, but I have been trying to get from her! She is also taking a piano class lesson, and will begin private lessons this month because she is ahead of everyone else in the class and has already memorized all the songs. The teacher is also from Russia and has a beaming smile on her face when she whispers to us that she really needs private lessons....yes and how much more will that be, HUM? She also loves her jazz/hip hop dance class with 12 of her nearest and dearest friends from school. I love watching her move and smile the whole time! What a HAM!!! She MAY get that from me!!!? She is going to try her first year of basketball also with her friends, many also in dance with her. It should be a fun, and funny experience to see all those divas out there on the court trying to keep the ball under control! Our sweet friends the McAfees are coaching both Jacob and Julia's teams. It is always so much fun to share life with a group of families who try and live life the same way you do. We are thankful that all three kids love being active, involved, and love sharing life with their friends.

We have also been busy doing a new ministry this year along with directing our adult sunday school class. We have stepped into the 6th grade world of HOTSPOTS on Wednesday nights. The 6th grade NORTH group meets at our house where two men, and two women lead a small group of girls and boys from our church in bible study. We have been studying the book of James, and have really enjoyed learning how to live our lives in a different way from the world. We have snacks, fellowship time (trampoline/gameroom), whole group time, and then break off into smaller groups of girls (which I and the other lady take), and boys. It so neat to hear these girls hearts. They each have their own set of struggles, and hurts they are going through. It has been great for Jeffrey to really get to know some of the other guys from church since he doesn't go to school with any of them. He is quite the little actor when they do their skit to share their part of scripture. It has really been neat to see him gain some confidence and watch him become who God is making him through this group. Jacob and Julia are getting in on the big group time as well, so we are truely enjoying the ministry as a family!

Marv has been busier than ever with traveling, trying to recruit more and more agents to his office, and just keeping up with the goings on at the office. I'm so proud of him! He has met many obstacles that can just knock the wind out, and keep us looking up to God for the strength, wisdom, and peace to get through some of the things he has had to experience. He has grown and been stretched though. It's neat to see HIM be glorified when Marv has choosen to take a stand for his faith, and still lead the office to success.

I have been able to sub ALOT lately and love it! It's so great to just get in there and do what I love...teaching and loving on those sweet kiddos...without all the other stuff that goes with it. I don't know if or when I'll go back to full time teaching...it's a daily prayer and seeking God's timing on that. I taught first grade for several years before the babies started taking over, and have always thought that I would never want to teach above like 2nd, or 3rd grade, but these last few jobs have been in 4th and 5th. It's amazing how fun it is to teach kids that can do for themselves. I even taught a 5th grade math class a few Fridays ago...I was so nervous cause they were doing fractions....but I had the teacher's book, which has ALL the answers!!!! Now all I had to do was try and figure out how to get to the answer! Well I would pick the smartest looking kid and say..."I have the answer, but I just wonder if YOU could tell me how YOU think that I GOT the answer!!" I really did kinda start to learn it by the 3rd class that I taught it to! Maybe that's what I should do.... teach math so that I could learn it better! SCARY THOUGHT!!! I do have a dream of painting, or creating something to sell someday. There are so many things that I would love to get involved in...for instance learning to play the banjo, or square dancing~no joke!!! But Marv isn't much of a dosey doer, and I don't think pickin' and grinnin' would be good for my nails. So maybe I will just get into painting of some kind and trying to keep up with the 6th grade math. I have only 2 weeks left of my boot camp and although I have had some great successes with it...I have still only begun my journey. I plan to join some friends who work out every morning, and possibly join a weight watchers group here in Frisco to help me stay accountable for food. My precious children are my little encouragers and help me keep the french fries from going in the pie hole!

Well sorry for the long post, but just felt the need to get everyone updated, and maybe even feel a sense of accomplishment myself when I look back on the new season of growth and blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving to all Friends and Family. Can't wait to hear from each of you via Christmas cards, emails, and blogs!

It's a crazy Fall Y'all!

2006-11-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

You know life is too busy when you don't even have time to blog a little something every now and then! This year was a time for me to stop all the craziness in my over scheduled life and get some things taken care of like my health, but it seems that I have let the business of life creep back in and take over, and this time it has thrown me down on my back...jumped on top...and the countdown to 10 is on. I only have 3 weeks left of my boot camp and then I'm gonna catch up on some sleep! I have been subbing and babysitting all most every day of the week, and then once the kids get home it's homework, homework, homework, music lessons, 6th grade hot spots at our house on Wednesday nights, and basketball season hasn't even started yet!

This year all three kiddos wanted to play basketball, so we are gonna try it out. I know it's only a few months of practices and games, but man it's crazy to be outnumbered when you've got games and practices all over the place! One good thing is that Jacob and Julia are both being coached by the same dad and mom so hopefully their games won't have many conflicts! Even in the craziness I love being a mom, wife, and know how blessed I am to get to be busy and involved in their lives every day!

We are so ready for a week long break and look forward to having some great visits with family. I will get back on here soon and put some pictures up of our first ever trick-or-treating experience (we usually just do the fall festival at our church). Julia kept saying over and over how much fun she was having. For some reason it just feels like you are actually getting a treat when you are getting candy from all your friend's homes! It was neat seeing so many friends and neighbors out, and getting to meet new neighbors. Some of the kids from our elementary school even recognized me..."Hi Mrs. Jolly!" This was by far the best halloween we have ever had...even with Jacob wheezing the whole time!

Rain!

2006-10-15T22:42:00.000-04:00

I love it when you wake up and it's raining, you go through the day and it's raining, and you go to bed and it's raining! We sure needed it and it is just like a big cloud hugging you all day making you stay home in your pj's and be still in your home! I've been sick off and on for about a week now and needed this day to really just be still. Marv and Jeffrey went to the Dallas Cowboy vs. Houston Texans football game today, and Jacob, Julia and I spent a great day together while I watched the game off and on, talked with my sister, and let the Benadryl do it's crazy thing to me. I feel very rested and a little better, but still can't get over the coughing fits! WELCOME to RAGWEED SEASON!

So that's why I haven't been blogging lately, and I look forward to catching up on some of what's been going on lately sometime this week! Hope all is well with each of you, and looking forward to seeing my extended family over the Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks!

Counting my Blessings

2006-09-29T23:06:00.000-04:00

Well we made it through the week and now have a three day weekend to recoup before it all gets going again! Although we do have....you guessed it MATH homework for the weekend along with some science. Can't we just have a little break? I had a friend give me an article today out of the Dallas Morning News about homework. Wish we could rise up as a group of parents and get some changes made on the amount of homework if any! Okay I'll get off this soap box, but not before giving God the glory for all the neat ways that he has answered my prayers this week through so many sweet people in our life...

1) My baby sister Amy who happened to call right in the middle of our first night of math homework!
2) Jody Clark-our new math tutor, and happens to KNOW Jeffrey's math teacher.
3) Friends who have offered wisdom, and ideas, and prayers for us.
4) New friend made today in bible study, Cheryl and her 7th grade son who loves to helping his peers with math!

It has been so amazing to me that God has worked out all the details to get us through this little challenge, and I just love it when he cares for us in the ways that we don't and can't even think of. It's all gonna be okay!!!

On a different note I have had to miss a couple of days of working out with Marv being out of town and my busy schedule, but tomorrow I will be meeting up with a group from the gym and running (well walking fast mainly) a 5K with them all. Ron had shirts made up for us to wear as a group and will help give him some advertisement for his fitness program. It should be fun, and hopefully easy compared to the 1/2 marathon that I did a couple of years ago!

HELP

2006-09-25T23:47:00.000-04:00

I needed help in a bad, bad way...and I got it today! It always amazes and humbles me when I am in dire need~over my head~and bless my own stinking heart just feeling crazy cause for some reason with everything going on...Marv out of town for the entire week, boot camp can not be missed, school and schedules, and oh my gosh the 6th grade math homework EVERY night without fail! Today and this week is one of those times and I have just been literally shaking knowing that Jeffrey would come home with the unbelievable homework that I didn't do until high school and college...and just barely got through then! Marv had planned on having me fax it to him, but he had to hob-nob (or something like that) in Austin with the realator types so I was pretty much on my own when out of the blue my precious baby sister who just happens to be the mensa queen and got ALL the brains of the family calls me up and with all the patience and love in her heart helps me help Jeffrey through some crazy- type math. I just lost it with her on the phone, and all three of my babies starring at their basic math- kinda momma trying to understand why it mattered that Bob ran 8 kilometers...and how long did it take him. I DON'T CARE BOB!!! I would like to ask why it mattered that my child has up to 4+ hours of homework every night and how much longer do they expect him to make it at this rate....do that math,K! Sorry I have just had it with watching my amazing 11 year old come home each day grab a quick snack and then muster up the most amazing God given diligence I've ever seen and watch him try to dive into his homework every night. He has no free time to climb trees, ride bikes, or even read a book for fun. I'm so thankful to be in a top notch school district, but it seems like the teachers who have no children of their own yet just don't get what it is like to have this stress and pressure each and every night.

The other precious friend that helped me out today was my friend Nicole, who I handed off the pta presidency to~bless her heart! : ) She offered to have my kiddos come spend the night so that I could get up and go work out and be back in time for the Clark girls to get here in the morning. She also offered to try and do some of her mathmagician type voodoo to help me with the homework tonight. I just feel so blessed, and am TRYING not to feel stressed since God sent these two angels to step up and stand by my side through this craziness of homework and schedules. It's hard to not have family near by, but with friends like these it's all most just like a family. It takes a village....and I'm just thankful that they can help this village idiot be the best mom I can try to be! Can I get a witness in here?

Happy Fall Y'ALL!!!

2006-09-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

I don't know if it's today, or tomorrow, or maybe it was yesterday.... I do know it feels like fall today with cooler temps and a little rain. Praise the Lord and thank you God for it! I love this season and time of year all most as much as the spring time! It just feels fresh, and cozy. When I start seeing the brown, yellow, and orange colored wreaths on the doors popping up I know it's Fall! When I see the scarecrows, pumpkins, and mums I know it's Fall. Unfortunately it will still be a while before the real trees start showing their fall colors IF they get around to it before the first big wind and freeze come through. When my friend Kim moved to Virginia she sent me real leaves off of trees to show me what Fall colors really were like in the real world. They were purple, red, orange, and yellow. Just amazing and so beautiful! Here in the Great State they are pretty much brown, yellow, and crunchy DEAD brown! I still love it though, and hope to someday travel up North, or East during this time of year and see what real Fall trees look like! Anybody want to join me?

I'm in the Army now

2006-09-15T09:26:00.000-04:00

I started the Ron Lyon's Ultimate Fitness program (a.k.a. BOOT CAMP) on July 3rd. It is an intense workout program of weight lifting, cardio, core training, and nutrition. I go every morning at 5:30-6:30 except for Sundays. It has been life changing already, and I'm just in the 11th week. I will be through with my 22 weeks December 3rd.

The week that I started my best friend Kim Voiles and her family were visiting from Virginia on their summer vacation. It wasn't gonna be easy to stay up late every night getting our visiting in and be able to get up at 4:45 every morning, but I made it. It also was difficult to eat right since we were celebrating and eating out mucho, but I made it. I'm so glad Chris and Kim were there for me that first week. It was comforting to know that they would be up when I got home wanting to hear all about it, and do my measurements! I had been praying for God to help me be morning person and it's happening! Now don't get me wrong I still love my sleep and love being up at night, but I get so much done now earlier in the day. Now I didn't do this to become a morning person...I did it to loose weight! As of today I have lost 181/2 pounds and lot's of inches. In fact it's been something new to have to get used to is not worrying so much about the scale moving as how my clothes fit. Since I'm gaining muscle the scale isn't going to move as much. I still have a long way to go, but I didn't put this on in 22 weeks...more like 12 years. Earlier this week Ron made us go around to each of the 15 people in the group and shake their hand, look them in the eye, and say..."I WILL SUCCEED!" This was VERY meaningful for me, cause I've tried so many things, so many times to get healthy. This is it finally for me, and I feel such a freedom to be able to be doing this right now.

Last year I was PTA president and just running crazy with all of my stuff and kid's school and activities going on. Marv and I sat down and realized that we weren't living life with purpose. So I stepped down from my pta position, and didn't sign up for anything else so that I could make getting healthy my key purpose and job this year. I love my sweet husband for supporting me, and allowing me to get my STUFF together! I also love, love, love my 3 biggest cheerleaders Jeffrey, Jacob, and Julia for their enthusiasm for letting me know when they think my bottom is getting smaller. They remind me what IS and ISN'T healthy to eat, and maybe they do have a little incentive (a pool) if I loose the 80 pounds that I need to loose. "PUT DOWN THE DOUGHNUTS MOMMA!!" It's been fun, and truly humbling to know that my family still loves me no matter what size I am, but how much fun is life when you have the peace and freedom of living in a healthy body! I will post some pictures soon to show progress, and for sure show the before and afters one day!

Too Blessed to be Stressed

2006-09-14T11:02:00.000-04:00

"I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!"

I received this quote in an email from Marv's cousin today and it really just hit home with me and made me smile. How true this is for all of us here in America...even if things aren't going the way WE planned in our life~God can have a greater plan for you than you could have every thought possible. It doesn't always make sense, or seem to be as easy and nice as we would like it, but isn't it neat that even when our lives seem such a mess from our own doing, or from the card that has been dealt to us that God can work literal miracles and in our weaknesses HIS strength is stronger than anything in our life.

Satan loves to rob us of our joy by lying to us and getting us all worked up to the point of being so stressed and freaked out over what is going on in our lives at the moment. But WE ARE TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED. This doesn't mean that certain set backs, or tragedies in life aren't stressful, BUT we can decide to look at the blessings once we can get over the shock of the situation and then give God the glory for HIS perfect PEACE that comes in and takes over our nerves, heart rates, and blood pressure. It's easy to be disappointed when things just don't seem to follow our lesson plans that we have for our lives, but I have learned that when God's anointing falls on your life and you accept Him and make the decision to let him be the LORD of your life...not just going through the motions and being all religious and spiritual, but truly let HIM be on the throne of your heart then you can have a trust in God that will supersede anything this world has to offer.

I don't want to pretend that many of you reading this blog aren't experiencing some tremendous hurts, disappointments, grief, or straight up despair straight from the pit of hell. I've been there too over the last 36 years. I want to pray for you, and lift you up to the Lord. So that you can experience the amazing healing that only God can bring into your life. Hope this quote blesses someone today as it has me!

9/11

2006-09-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

I remember turning on the t.v.-not a normal morning routine-to check the weather. I had a meeting at Jeffrey's elementary school at 10:00 and needed to see what to wear. All of the sudden I saw the Today show switching to live coverage and talking about something weird going on at the twin towers when shortly after that I saw the second plane hit the building. Marv had just come back home from dropping off Jacob at preschool. I ran out in my robe telling him it was like a nightmare and we just sat there watching t.v. wondering what if anything we needed to do. I didn't get out of my robe the whole day until I had to go pick up the boys, and Marv worked from home that day trying to get some things done, but just sick to our stomachs of what this meant for our country. It was so hard to sleep and every time we would hear a plane, or anything I felt myself ducking. I went to the grocery to store to get some bottled water, and canned goods...just in case. Looking back on it now I just had Y2K in my mind and thought I had to do something to get ready for what I don't know, but I felt like I had to do something.

Going to New York this summer was eye-opening to see that it was real, and that people all over the city would share with us where and what they were doing on 9-11. I can't believe it's been 5 years. It seems like a life time ago in some ways, but I'm thankful that we have not had a repeat. Here are some pictures that I have from our day that we visited Ground Zero. The fire station right across the street had the memorial from the men they lost that day. The cross made out of the steel beams landed that way and they haven't moved it since. It is just a huge hole in the ground, and so many of the buildings (around 10 I think) around the towers are having to be torn down due to damage from that day. An interesting thing was that the church across the street wasn't hurt at all. Not even one window was broken. It was a place of rest and refuge for many rescue workers for months.

Curtsinger Spirit Rallies

2006-09-11T09:45:00.000-04:00

We love our kids elementary school. It is so neat to see God's hand in bringing us to this wonderful place that has been such a blessing to us. The Spirit of the school is all most so tangible you can feel it in the air when you step onto the campus! It is just contagious and gives me chills when I get to be a part of it. We used to have Good Morning Curtsinger EVERY morning before school started, and spirit rallies EVERY Friday, but now it is just a couple times a month. Coach Beeler and Coach Morgan do an outstanding job of teaching the kids all about school and town pride. It's amazing to see close to 800 kids and 1,000 people total (teachers, parents, grandparents, little siblings) come and join in on the fun! It's loud, energetic, and just plain fun!

On Thursday my kids came home saying they needed to get a bowl, spoon, and a rabbit to help make rabbit stew since we were playing a team called the rabbits in football Friday night. All the kids and teachers wore aprons and made chef hats to show their spirit. What fun! Our counselor even had a fog machine and MADE some rabbit stew of her own!

On a sad note Jacob ran for student council, but was beat out by two of his good friends. He wrote his own speech and made his poster ready to win, but it just wasn't meant to be. He said he wasn't mad, or sad, just very disappointed. He said, "Mom you win some, you loose some!" So true even though it hurts to see them try so hard and not get it. Next year little buddy!

DeDe's 2nd birthday

2006-09-11T09:38:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to our little 2 year old Boston terrier! DeDe (a.k.a. Deeds) is our favorite pet ever! We've been through several dogs to get to her, but it was worth it. She does still have a barking issue with STRANGERS, but we're working the Ceasar's Way method with her and she is getting soooooo much better! Marv and I did not grow up with inside pets of any kind...well there was that one fish that I fed too much because we were leaving for vacation and I didn't want it to get hungry. Needless to say there were so many flakes on the surface of the water that the fish couldn't even float when it died much less get air! You live and you learn right? Anyway Marv and I had a dog named Jake our second year of marriage...we forgot to feed him, or he was stolen...not sure what happened there. Then we got a HUGE mut dog from the HEB parking lot in Cleburne for $5 named Chester (for our friends in Virginia). He was awesome and beautiful, but each time I would take him to the vet they just kept saying what kind of dog is this? He was 70+ pounds with in the first few months. Chester I'm pretty sure was really a horse. We had to give him to a family who had a 100 acre place out in the country when we moved. Shortly after we moved here we bought our first EXPENSIVE/pure bred dog....Oscar the miniature Dachshund. Oscar, oscar, oscar....what can I say. It was our first attempt at house training and crate training. It just didn't go well, and he liked to bite my kiddos. Should've known better to buy it from the place we bought it...but again you live and you....Oscar went to stay with Aunt Michelle while we were away on vacation and well let's just say that she had to remove him from their property due to a freakish episode during a thunderstorm, etc... and we haven't seen him since. The kids were some what relieved and you know I was! Thanks Michelle for doing my dirty work!

Deeds has been the first dog that we have successfully house train, taught some commands, and have really just loved as a true part of the family. She's doing well to be in her teen-age years. We look forward to many more happy memories with her! Marv wishes he could teach her to bird hunt, but I don't trust him around her with a gun! He would love to have a lab! Not really! Marv loves DeDe more than all of us put together! The pictures are of Dede as double dip eating a pooch cone for her birthday. She such a great little traveler...it's all most like having 4 kids!

Invinceable

2006-09-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

Went and saw the awesome movie Invinceable last night with the McAfee family. It was really a fun movie to watch even though our guys weren't with us. At one point I wanted to ask everyone around me if they knew how the game turned out cause my heart was just beating so fast I didn't think I would make it to the end! We will for sure go back and watch it with the guys again~it was that good! I just realized that the guys name is in the title...well that is if I actually spelled it right! It was fun to look back in time and remember how everyone dressed and how things were back then.

I'm so thankful for a little break after these first few weeks of school. It's nice to be able to take a breath before diving right back in to it all. I heard from Marv and the boys last night and they are up to 8 birds now and having a grand time. Julia Sage and I are gonna meet up with my sister and her girls for some girl time later on today...Michelle told me this morning that she has taught Gabbie a new phrase to say to Maggie when she is getting a little out of sorts...Gabbie says,"Maggie stop being passive-aggressive!" That's just like my sister to teach her baby girls to tell it just like it is! Too funny to think about little red-headed Gabbie saying that in her cute little angel voice! Gotta go shower off the boot camp and start a Saturday siesta a little early!

Taking a step back

2006-09-01T17:27:00.000-04:00

I have kept a little girl, Emily, for the past couple of years since she was a baby, and now she is old enough to go to a mom's day out/preschool. She is now joined this year by her baby sister,Taylor, who is five months old. They are so fun to have the 4-6 times a month that I have them. It's really neat to see how my kids interact with them. When Emily is here it's like she is a part of our family and all of the sudden I have 4 kids. She has her own chair at our table, and just fits right in. My kids pretty much take over once they are home from school and I don't even realize she is here. This has been good for Julia to experience what it would be like to have a little sister, and to get some practice so that when she becomes a momma she will have some idea. Now that Taylor has joined her it is even better because all my kids are older and so helpful. Last week they came over and it was my first time to take Emily to her preschool. Man I felt like I had stepped into a time warp that slung me back to the mom's day out/ preschool days! It was a little unsettling and felt like I was taking a step back, but I did just fine! For those of you out there who still have little ones...it's true...don't blink cause they grow up fast! I just thought that was a saying that people said like when asked, "How are you? we say.."Fine." even if it's not the truth. But they really were telling the truth when they told me how fast it all happens! In many ways I'm so thankful to be out of that stage of life with the diaper bags, blankies, change of clothes, snacks, etc...but since going back with Emily it just makes me a little sad that it's over. Kinda like the way I was sad that our wedding day, and the birth of our children were over. You can't ever go back. It's fun to see others going through those passages of their lives, and to remember your own experiences. It's not so much fun for others to have to sit and listen to all your detailed accounts...when I had MY babies....back when we got married... I guess I feel very surreal most days, and have learned to really try and appreciate each and every moment as they happen cause it's just gonna be over before you know it.

Man is this so deep and serious, or what!!!?

I'm so grateful to God for all the blessings that this family of mine has brought in my life. I never would have dreamed as a child/rebelous teenager that he would have this for me in my future, but I'm glad to be able to be living this life the way that I do. Even if it doesn't always work out...I know his plan is perfect and in the good and bad times God is faithful to sustain and provide just what I need to make it through and learn what I need to learn so that I will be able to help others through when it's their turn.

Dove season

2006-09-01T16:51:00.000-04:00

I think this time of year is bitter-sweet for me...I grew up in a family full of gun-slingin' hunters, but it's just hard to know my babies are out there killing precious innocent doves with their daddy! I'm so glad they are having their male bonding time...getting all grubby and stuff out in the wilderness. Marv got a couple of other dads and their 11 year old sons to join them, so I'm sure they are gonna have a ball at the Cisco Motor Inn! Julia and I are loving just staying home and catching up on some chick flicks. We got a call this morning saying that they got 7 birds this morning and that Marv wouldn't let Jeffrey claim the one he SHOT OUT OF THE AIR (WOW SON!) until he picked it up all bloody and twisted it's little neck to make sure it went quickly! Jacob hasn't actually shot yet, but Marv taught him how to help the bird go to heaven too! How is this okay? We don't NEED the meat cause we've got a freezer full of deer and hog meat from last season...any takers? We have a pair of doves, or should I say a dove couple, who live in our landscaping. I hear them coo and everything and just see them hanging out there loving life. If I can just keep them from flying across the road to the country then hopefully I will have saved at least these two little peaceful creatures!

Why Flying Freckle?

2006-09-01T09:48:00.000-04:00

We always seemed to have the newest Dodge van when I was a kid...I remember a green and white one, then brown, and then I think the last one was blue. My Dad got the whole month of July off since the boys ranch closed down for that month. That's when we would load up the tents, canoe, and later on the travel trailer and head out towards some of our cousin's homes. We would always stop off in Ft. Worth at my Daddo and Mommo's house to have a send off of turkey sandwiches for the road. My dad loved to drive and would even drive all night long some nights while crunching ice chips to stay awake. Mom loved to read books with both feel planted firmly on the dash of the car. I am the oldest of four and we would rotate seats. There were two bench seats and then a bed type platform in the back of the van that my dad made. On some trips before the bed we even had a porta-potty back there complete with curtains that my dad sewed himself! (Watch the bumps DAD!) We were fancy and ready for traveling thousands of miles! Growing up none of us had cell phones, much less t.v.'s in our cars when we traveled, but the one thing we HAD to have was a CB radio. My dad even got high tech later on when he rigged up a speaker just for himself that was closer to his ear so it would be more quite when we were sleeping,or when the language got colorful he could hear while protecting us from it. The cb radio was a truckers pre-cell phone way of communicating to each other for weather updates, traffic reports, and police sightings. It even helped us find cheaper gas-who doesn't need that now days! We loved listening to all the different truckers to hear what was going on in the world of highways and byways! We liked to use it for entertainment often asking the truckers questions, and we would sing to them songs like Jesus loves me! I'm sure that kept them awake! We would even sometimes be talking to them and end up passing them so that we could wave and pump our arms trying to get them to blow their horn. Man what a rush! Well after talking on the cb for a while you begin to start talkin' real countree like and askin' 'em questions like...."Whatz yur handle good buddy?" and "10-4 good buddy...come back?..." We had to get our own cb names, also know as handles so that we wouldn't give out TOO much info just in case..... Well mine was....can you guess it? FLYING FRECKLE!!!! I was covered in them, skinny, and big ears flying down the road in our get up towards the nearest, or farthest destination!

Those were the good old days! (I know I'm getting old when I can use that phrase!)

Now when we take our thousand mile trips we have cell phones, game boys,and dvd players for each kid WITH headphones and remotes! Our best friends from Virginia even got real high tech on their last trip to Texas this summer and had a computerized gps type system on their lap top computer that told them what exit to take for gas and food. It also kept up with how many miles left, etc.. to their destination! Now THAT is fancy!!! We didn't get to drive to New York this summer due to scheduling conflicts. Most would think well yeah isn't flying faster, easier, and better? Well not when you don't get to SEE what's in between here and there, and not when your kids miss out on the open road experience. I'm not gonna lie and say that's it's always pleasant to travel miles and miles, but it's sure worth it! Next summer we hope to head West. You can be sure that we will at least turn off the movies and game boys just long enough to teach our kiddos how to do the arm pump and get those truckers to honk their horns! "10-4 good buddy....this is the flying freckle...what's your handle....come back?!"

Women of Faith/Girls weekend

2006-08-28T22:44:00.000-04:00

I had a great time celebrating my birthday this weekend at Women of Faith since it fell on my birthday. My friend Jennifer and I went early on Friday morning to the Bliss spa at the W and had a relaxing massage and facial. This hotel opened two months ago and was right across the street from the American Airlines center so it was nice to not have to fight traffic.

We were then joined by our good friends Nicole and Gina and had a quick late lunch in the living room area of the hotel where the walls would change colors. The motto for the hotel was WHATEVER WHENEVER. Pretty cool if that would REALLY be possible. We tried to see if the bellman would give Jennifer his socks since she forgot to bring some for Saturday, but they were sweaty and he said no. We wanted to eat at the Craft restaurant, but they weren't serving at 3 in the afternoon. So I guess it's a good thing we didn't get too spoiled to whatever whenever, or life would've been harder to return to once we got home! NO really it was a lovely and a very mod kinda hotel. The bottles of water were glass and cylinder-very modern and different looking. The pool area was neat as you may be able to see from the pictures.

The conference was fun and inspiring as always. I love to laugh, but after about 24 hours of it you are just PLUM exhausted! The same awesome ladies spoke that do every year, but this year was neat to also hear from Max Lucado, Sandi Patti-loved her song WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM with a precious angel from heaven, who had down-syndrome, who signed the song while she sang, Natalie Grant...an amazing singer, and Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil's wife). This was only Robin's 2nd time to speak in front of a large crowd like this so she did pretty well with reading the prompters, but seemed to be pretty surface and general. I was hoping to really hear her heart, but was pretty sad that she wasn't more real and on fire. The coolest part was when DR. PHIL came up on stage and surprised Robin (she thought he wasn't there) and said a few words to us. It was hilarious to see all the cameras start flashing when he came up there. He said that since she had walked him off the stage from day one of his show for the last 4 years that he had to make sure and walk her off. Pretty sappy sweet! I hope that if she does begin to speak on this women of faith tour that the original women will rub off on her and help her acknowledge the real power of Jesus and get off the worldly, politically correct, nambie pambie subjects. Man God could really use their huge platform in a mighty way!

Well happy birthday to me and 40 is coming in loud and clear with each day! Thanks to my good buddies, and my awesome hubby who helped me have a relaxing day and great girls weekend!

Love, Sweat, and 15 YEARS!!!

2006-08-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary to us! It's been 15 years now as of August 24th. What a hot day that was back in '91! I'll never forget all the fun, sweat, family, sweat, friends, sweat, and precious memories (sweat) made on that day! It was a day for having my hair up for coolness-which I did not- and for having my train pinned up in the back after the ceremony-which I did for all of about 10 seconds! Marv accidently stepped on it and ripped the snaps off, so I had to wrap it around my arm so that I could get around to try and see everyone. I also was reminded by one of my college buddies, Audra, about how her mom had to sew me into the dress after she tried to zip it up and the zipper broke. She found Marv and asked him if he had a knife with him cause he would NEED it later! Let's just say that birdseed... when stuck in a wedding gown full of SWEAT... isn't a pretty thing! : )

I think looking back that I was suppossed to learn from all of the experiences that day that marriage can be full of joy, sweat, and little set backs in life that can either be scoffed at or laughed at. We try to enjoy every day to it's fullest, and I can say so far every day of the last 15 years have been worth it. Good and not so good! I love you Marvin Jolly and will shout it from the roof tops in this bloggers world! I'm so thankful to God for blessing me with the best hubby in the world!

'Gooder' English

2006-08-26T21:26:00.000-04:00

Okay now for those of you who know me I like to have fun with the English language and it's just funny to me the way some words come out with different accents. Well there is one thing about emailing and blogging and that is trying to get your tone, voice, and correct attitude across to the person, or in this cases persons who you are writing to. I got to see my mom at the Women of Faith conference this weekend in Dallas, and when we got to the American Airline center I immediately called my mom and did one of those stand up and wave my arms like a crazy person while we were talking on the cell phone trying to eyeball each other. IT WORKED, and was so neat to be able to look out across the stage area and crowd knowing right where my momma was the whole weekend. Well as we were chatting on the phone after finally seeing each other and confirming where to meet at the next break my mom says, "Oh hey Tiff...Dad and I were reading your blog and just noticed that you said 'Got my nails DID three times instead of got my nails done.' Did you mean to do that?

I grew up in a family full of educators, and married into a family full of educators, so for all you educators out there who probably wondered the same thing if you could hear the WAY that it's said then you would get it, but I assured my mom that I would just send out an FYI that I do know the correct way to say it...done....and that I like to say I'm gettin' my hair and nails did for fun! :)

Something else that's funny with communicating is in my birthday card from my mom and dad I read the little notes that they wrote in the card and my dad wrote....You are the lousiest wife and mom in the world! Well I thought maybe he was just trying to be funny and then I read the next two sentences and realized that in fact he was being serious, so then I thought hopefully I was reading it wrong! I just couldn't make out what other word it might be and man it sure did look like lousy. I called them up and asked for an explanation and a verification and found out after much laughter on my mom's part that the word was busiest! Communication is such a luxury to us all now days, but man it can get messed up!

I'll try and make myself clear, but please don't grade me on spelling, etc... cause this is usually done early mornings, or late nights. That's gonna be my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it!

Gettin' my nails did with PRIMETIME!

2006-08-21T23:14:00.000-04:00

Well it started out an ordinary day just doing the usual...breakfast dishes, startin' some laundry, picking up here and there, helping out with some pta stuff, and then running around doing some errands when I decided that with meet the teacher night, anniversary, and a birthday girls weekend at Women of Faith this week I should go get a long over-do pedicure. So I head to my normal place Nails Now and slip into one of their nice new massaging chairs that make your body stick out all over the place as it rolls up and down your back (not real flattering!) and close my eyes to enjoy just sitting for a little while. It was a fairly slow day, and just a few other ladies coming and going around me when I notice this black dude come in with a white bandana on his head. Now I have seen a couple of men there before, and even a couple of teen-age guys(what is this world coming to you ask-well it's worth hiding your manly pride for a few minutes of relaxation!) I immediately recognize him and wanted to say hey Michael, but instead I texted Marv who I knew was in a lunch meeting and let him know that I was getting my nails did right across from Michael Irving. He called me back fairly quickly and asked me what swank place was I in to be sharing such company and as if he was gonna come in there himself and stick his toes in the water with me just so he could see. He then asked me if it wasn't Michael, but Deion...of course that's who he was. I all most snapped a picture with my cell phone, but didn't want to be a paparazzi-type stalker. So I just sat there gazing and watching as all the little workers were surrounding him. Needless to say I was hoping he would pay for all our tabs as a kind Dallas Cowboy gesture, but it didn't happen. By the way he wasn't as big as I thought he would be, but for sure had super long fingers for catching the football. He lives just north of Frisco and is often sighted all around town. Next time I will try and ask for an autograph reminding him that I didn't bother him the first time I saw him! Think it will work?

Slippin' AWAY!

2006-08-21T00:35:00.000-04:00

This past week has been a huge mile stone in the Jolly family with Jeffrey going off to Jr. High. I sent my precious little boy off to school on Monday and he returned a young man. So many great things are happening for him right now, and it is a bitter sweet time for me. He was also promoted to the youth group in Sunday school last Sunday and HAD to sit with the youth since Marv and I were helping out in the nursery that day (what a great reminder of how far we have come!). Well today he decides that he would like to sit up with the youth in the front section again...EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SITTING IN THE SERVICE!!! I started to not let him, so we could still be a precious little family of five, but I know that it is very important for him to create bonds and friendships at church, so I let him go. I could see him with no problem and even threatened that I would come up there and get him if he played around....oh yeah I would have too! BUT he did awesome and it was really fun and interesting to watch him worship our Lord today as an independant young man. He even took notes and listened during the sermon...I think?!

I remember thinking as a young mommy with 3 kids under the age of 4 that I would never see the light of day again, but with each step from crib to big bed... diapers to undies...sippy cups to normal glasses...bath time to savoring the clean wet heads every night when I go in to kiss them good night...I see them slipping slipping away oh so quickly. These past few days I just can see him physically starting to slip away into the teen-age years, and it hurts my heart to know that the first 11 1/2 years are all most done. I feel such a peace for getting to stay home with him, and still be here when he gets home. He loves to share his days with me, and loves to interject his humor in such a way that can make me belly laugh! I can't believe we only have 7 more years until he goes off to college! And then there will be four.....

One week down...

2006-08-17T22:21:00.000-04:00

Only about 36 more to go!

Man the homework has started today in middle school. Did I mention how much I hate this part of back to school. Especially MATH!!! If anything ever happens to Marv I'm doomed cause I just feel so dumb and couldn't help Jeffrey with some of the fifth grade math much less middle school math! Oh well like I always told my math teachers in high school when they would get frustrated with me for not "getting it" after the third time that they had to explain it to me....IN THE REAL WORLD I'll be able to use a calculator! Little did I know that there would be one right on my grocery cart handle, and on my cell phone in case that one didn't work! If I ever go back to teaching I promise I will make homework parent friendly!

Looking forward to the weekend!!!

Back to School

2006-08-14T11:35:00.000-04:00

Well they're off and we all made it with time to spare this morning. I got back from boot camp a little late this morning, but Julia was already up with hair washed thanks to my dear husband! As I'm sitting here writing this I still have yet to wash my own hair, so that's the next thing on the agenda of my first day of starting another bitter/sweet year. Even our dog DeDe was sad to see them go this morning! I love so much having my little ducklings all around me here under feet, and even off playing in game room by themselves...it's good to just be able to hear them (well most of the time when they aren't in a squabble). Sometimes so much that I think I should be homeschooling. I just know that they are thriving so much in our wonderful public system, and as long as I can be there and be involved they are gonna do great. I really think I would be just too laid back and they wouldn't get the Stellar EDUCATION that they need. I think the friends and moms in my life that I know that do homeschool are very brave, and are doing a great job. Anyway I'm looking forward to picking them up and hearing all about their new teachers, friends, and schedule. Especially from Jeffrey who will have experienced the Jr. High world. I'm just soooo proud and thankful that God has blessed us with 3 amazing, thoughtful, and loving kids.

On another note...it's been a fun morning catching up with my sister Michelle as she spends her last day with the girls before heading off to school, and then lo and behold I got an email from my best friend in the world saying she has just started a blog too! This bloggin' thing is gonna be so fun to keep up with friends.

Well I've gotta get some major laundry, housecleaning, and probably try and fit in some time to get my nails did!

Summer is over

2006-08-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from our recent vacation in New York City... Kids being sweet while walking through the Natural History Museum. The Today show...we got on with Willard the weatherman! Ground Zero cross of steel...it landed like that and they kept it in the exact spot that it landed. Kids with fireman right across the street from ground zero. They were some of the first men to arrive, and they lost 6 from their station. Fun with the piano at FAO Schwarz toy store.

The kids enjoyed a surprise ride in a limo from the airport to our hotel. Our first night in NYC we went to see the musical Tarzan on Broadway. It was amazing!
The original flame that the statue of liberty held. Our family photo at the base of the lady. Our first go on the NYC subway system-not bad! Grand Central Station. ABC Good Morning America studio. We had Sunday picnic in Central Park.

Well it's all most the end of our summer, and it's been such a fun, memorable, and relaxing summer for this Jolly family. It was nice to not have all the drama that we had last summer with Marv's knee. And the kids really enjoyed not having to live in the game room while mom became a nurse and dad healed and had to work(bless his heart) on the couch. NO this summer was full of visitors, trips to grandparents, swimming, sleeping in, jumping on the new trampoline, training our dog DeDe with the doggy doors so we could take a fabulous trip to New York City, and I got to finally start Boot Camp training on July 3rd. Whew! It just makes me feel a peace inside knowing how blessed we are to be able to have the summer together making good memories. I can't believe it's time for school to be here again. I've heard my friends and lot's of other moms say how glad they are to send their kids off to school again, and usually by the 2nd or 3rd day I can come around and get used to the idea, but I really love having my kiddos home. It's fun to sleep in, hang out, play, and just do whatever we feel like doing. I've never been a big studious type person, so the homework, projects, and just all the paper work that comes home every week in the Thursday folders has never been something that I am fond of. It will be good though to get back into a routine and see the kids grow and learn. Jeffrey starts trombone in band and private guitar lessons this year in 6th grade. Jacob will have 1 1/2 hour piano lessons that will hopefully continue to help him with his love of the piano and writing music. And Julia will also be taking piano and be in a jazz/hip hop dance class with all her friends....how fun is that gonna be for us moms to visit during the lesson!!! It's gonna be a good year!

Up Up and Away!

2006-08-04T18:55:00.000-04:00

Well after reading and enjoying so many other blogs I thought I would try my hand at it...even if it ends up only being for myself. I've never been one to want to write down my thoughts for fear of everyone knowing all the silly stuff in my head. I have learned though that sometimes getting my thoughts out of my head can actually be helpful and maybe even help those around me understand all of the silly stuff in my head!

Already I've written and deleted so much that who knows what will come out of this. Maybe a chance for me to learn the art of writing again! I can tell you this about where I am at this point in my life....

I have 3 wonderful children who are growing up much too fast with an amazing husband who I will have been married to for 15 years this month, and I am currently in my fifth week of trying to get my health back and get down to my pre-baby weight (from 12 years ago!) I have enjoyed my journey with all the ups and downs so very much, but I still have so much to learn, do, and experience. I hope to be able and share my journey in a fun way and that I leave each blog feeling a little happier with my thoughts.