Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy!

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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!!!