In memory of Shelby~

 

In memory of Shelby Kennedy
November 1981 - May 2005

Shelby, We miss you. And everytime I hear this song, I cry. It will forever remind me of you and when we sang it as sisters.....you, me, Sara, & Lys.....at Micah & Holly's wedding. We had no idea that a year after that you'd be worshipping at our Savior's feet bowing down before Him. I can only imagine. That's the other song, I can't listen to without crying, as I remember you. 
I pray for your family this week, as they miss you so deeply still and treasure every moment & memory they had with you. May the Lord Jesus comfort them with His love & peace. 

Shelby lived to worship Jesus. The 6 years that I knew her she wanted to do what she was created to do. She loved and served her family and those around her. She shined because of Jesus. She was HIS servant. In her smile & voice she radiated Christ. In her simple trust and devotion to Him. I have grown closer to God having known Shelby in her life and in her death. And I have a sister-in-law and 2 precious nieces that have characteristics of her in small ways that will always remind me of her too. 

I just wanted to post this song and words in memory of her. When it came on this morning on my iTunes, I had to stop what I was doing and cry......it may not mean much to those who didn't know her, but still let this song we a prayer for your own life. Don't take it for granted, you never know how many days you will have on this earth, or how many days will you have with those you hold dear and love. LIVE to worship HIM and give HIM praise. 

(you'll have to stop the other playlist I have going, to hear the song)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am especially grateful for my children. For God's protection over them. And for every moment, day, week, and year I have to spend with them. After hearing of this tragic accident that took place last night, my soul grieves for this family. Please pray for the Chapmans. May God surround them with HIS peace. I can't even begin to imagine. I am reminded once again to not take one moment of life for granted.  

This month, we are finishing up school for the year, with only some math left really, but today I decided to take the day "off" of academics. Know why? Well, the kids were getting along and really playing well together (which has been rare the last week or so!) and it's a nice day outside and they wanted to explore out behind our house. AND I wanted to catch up on some quiet time, and meditation on a book & some Scriptures I am reading. 

So, on this beautiful, lovely, not-too-hot-yet spring day I am sitting outside on our deck enjoying the breeze, and truth from God's Word and journaling it here on the laptop. As I was sitting here, out came the kids, ready to explore.  

 

Their whole "get-up" cracks me up!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

And since being out here, the kids have surprised me by bringing their schoolwork out here asking to do it!!!! Even the two younger ones. What a nice change! So, now I am surrounded by my little blessings who are happily working and we're enjoying the day outside. The Lord knew I needed to be encouraged with this today.  

As I am reading the book "Humility: True Greatness" here is what stood out to me today about the perils & potency of PRIDE:  

It ignores logic all together. 

It is at the core of all sin. 

It is the most difficult sin to root out. 

It is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lusts.  

It refuses to acknowledge dependence upon Him.  

It contends for supremacy with God. 

It pursues self-glorification. 

It robs God of legitimate glory. It deprives God of something only He is worthy to receive. 

It is the greatest disturber of the soul's peace & sweet communion with Christ. 

It undermines unity and can ultimately divide.  

Man, when I look at pride that way, I want to have absolutely NOTHING to do with it! Drive every single ounce of it far from me, Lord!!!!! He giveth grace to the humble. Not to those who just appear and look humble, but those who are truly walking in humility before Him.

Just a really bad headache

Bryan had a rough night as he tossed and turned all night and woke up half a dozen times crying out about his head hurting.  I of course didn't get any solid sleep. Then all morning he couldn't get up for longer than 10 minutes without laying back down because his head hurt so bad. But after a nap today, and staying pretty low key most of the day, he told me tonight "I'm all fine now mom, with just a little bit of a headache left." And we are thanking God that he is ok. Thanks to those who prayed. I have a feeling he'll be full throttle with energy tomorrow!  And I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Thanking God

Tonight I am thanking God for the protection over my son's life. 

Our 2nd son, the strong, tough one that's quite a fighter was unconscious for a while tonight after a really bad fall. 

I could go into all the details, but let's just say it was very scary! There was a moment when I thought he was "gone." I was crying out..... "Jesus, please bring him back!" and "Bryan, come back, mommy's right here. You're ok, buddy" It's all being replayed over and over in my mind so I can't sleep tonight. He's sleeping fine though now, and we are glad to be here at home with him. He is laying right here next to me so I can hear his breathing. So far, all signs are that he will be fine. We will keep a close watch on him through tomorrow. 

My son has NO recollection of what happened. In fact when he "came to" he didn't even know where he was, or why his head hurt so bad. 

I've cried my quota for the month and although I'm still shook up emotionally I feel God's presence and sense of peace. HIS hand is on this boy's life. And HIS angels are watching over him....he's keeping them busy.  And he's keeping me trusting. Keeping me humble. Keeping me on my knees and crying out. 

being brothers~

Thoughts from J.C. Ryle:

I read these thoughts from the author, J.C. Ryle, on another blog, and thought it worth posting to remind myself, and any of you, how GOOD our God truly is!

“Reader, if God has given you His only begotten Son, beware of doubting His kindness and love, in any painful providence of your daily life! Never allow yourself to think hard thoughts of God. Never suppose that He can give you anything which is not really for your good. Remember the words of Paul: ‘He who spared not His own Son—but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things’ (Romans 8:32).

See in every sorrow and trouble of your earthly pilgrimage the hand of Him who gave Christ to die for your sins! That hand can never smite you except in love! He who gave His only begotten Son for you, will never withhold anything from you which is really for your good. Lean back on this thought and be content. Say to yourself in the darkest hour of trial, ‘This also is ordered by Him who gave Christ to die for my sins. It cannot be wrong. It is done in love. It must be well.’"

Happy Mother's Day (even though it's already the next day!)

I'm VERY grateful.....

.....to my mom who has raised me and loved me and supported me and cared for me. And taught me, trained me, disciplined me, enjoyed me, discipled me and always put up with me. If I wasn't a mom and didn't have to get up quite so early in the morning, I'd stay up and write a long, wonderful post about you, mom.  But duty calls, therefore sleep calls, and as you know we have to take it when we can get it, right? You're the best mom and I can't imagine life without you!

.....to my mother-in-law, the wonderful mother of my husband. He wouldn't be who he is today (that I love so much!) without you. THANK YOU for doing all you did as I am so very blessed! And not to mention you are definitely the best MIL I could ask for!

Both of these women are truly wonderful grandmothers too. My kids know they are truly loved and always prayed for. 
THANK YOU!!!!!!

.....to my grandmothers who have been examples to me in many areas. Thank you for your dedication and love to your husbands, children, and grandchildren and to the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. I wish I could spend more time with each of you. You are dearly loved and appreciated. 

.....to my sister, the most wonderful mother of 6 that I know!!!!! Being moms together and enjoying & watching each other be moms has been such a blessing. Between us there is NO comparison as moms. We love and appreciate the other in their gifts and abilities and personalities. Being in this stage together, crying together, praying together, laughing together, just being together and watching 10 kids together I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

.....to my sister in law, Holly, who is the most wonderful mom to my two nieces. And she has a great heritage in a mother & grandmother too who I know have blessed her tremendously. I love that we have "twin cousins" with our two 3 year olds and how fun it is to watch them grow up together! My SIL loves her girlies so much and they know it. 

.....to my sister in law, Stephanie, who joins me in raising one girl & 3 boys! Except she's on the other side of the world! And I have an admiration for all she does for her family where she lives. I am sure if we lived near each other we'd have a ton of fun as moms!!! And I can't wait to see her in just a few weeks!

.....to the older moms in my life who are ahead of me. Specifically Dianne, Gerrie, & three Julie's come to mind. And I know there are others too. 
Thanks for all the spiritual & practical insights each of you has given me, whether you knew it or not!

.....to the many aunts & cousins I have who are such great moms. I wish I lived nearer to many of them. But watching them from a distance I see that they love being where God has placed them in motherhood. 

.....to my girl-friends who are such great moms. Some of you are moms of many, some of you moms of one, some of you moms of boys, some of you laid back moms, some of you organized & detailed moms. I have so much to learn from you and thank you to those who have invested in my life and encouraged me as a mom. 

.....and to you moms I know who are doing it "alone" you have my admiration, thoughts, & prayers. Remember you are not alone in your job as a mother, and the love of Your Heavenly Father is always right there. Cling to the HOPE You have in HIM. Which is what we all should be doing anyway.....

Happy Mother's Day (even though it's already the next day~)

Quotes about moms:

A mother's love grows by giving. ~Charles Lamb
(just keep on giving!!!!!)

A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done. ~Author Unknown
(ain't that the truth?!?!?)

So much of what we know of love we learn at home. ~ Author Unknown
(I know that was true for me and I hope my kids feel the same way one day)

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. ~Cardinal Mermillod
(or so I'm told by the man in my life)

There never was a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him asleep. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
(AMEN!)

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. ~Theodore Hesburgh
(and another AMEN! I had a dad who did this and am grateful my husband does too!)

"Small Blessings"

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Gitting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last week's mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I seen then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile

~author unknown

sayings from my 3 year old~

Last night I was telling Seth it was about time to eat dinner, and Chandler pipes up:
"Dus a minute, I go call all de kids."
He runs over to the back door and yells out to them:
"Hey, kids! It's time to eat now!"


The other night, during dinner right after he burped:
"Ha, mom I dus pooted in my mouth."
(as you can imagine his older brothers & sister "lost it" over this one and couldn't quit laughing for quite some time!)

This afternoon he came over to me hiccuping and said:
"I hab dose noises in my mouth adin."

Tonight when he came in hot and thirsty:
"Oh mom, I hab a feber in my mouth and I need some water"
Then as he is drinking it he stops and looks at me:
"I jus still hab a fever in my mouth wast night, mom."


And why these have to do with his mouth, I'm not sure. 
(I tried to write them as he sounds) Actually he really says mouth, with an "F" at the end but I wasn't sure how to spell that.

This little man makes me smile and laugh. He's as picky as all get out, and as particular as they come, but most of the time just so sweet! The more he is talking, the funnier the things get that he says.
Here is our Chan man at Canyon Lake last weekend~

Fabulous Friday Favorite!

OK, so I am going to try this Friday Favorites thing. I was introduced to it by my friend who was introduced to it by her friend!  I love the idea. And I've found other's favorites become my favorites too! Fun, eh?

Well, today I will introduce you to my favorite clear lip gloss from 

Alba Botanica

The cheapest place to purchase it is here where it's only $2.92 

as it usually retails for almost twice as much as that. 

This stuff is squeezable, which is SO very cool, and mine has lasted me about 5 months, and that's using it almost daily. I've sometimes thought it just multiplies itself in the tube!

The smell is yummy and here is what is said about the ingredients. 

Organic coconut oil moisturizes your lips while organic beeswax 

and shea butter protect against drying. 

It is also enriched with Vitamin E to nourish dry lips.

ALBA botanica has a lot of other awesome products, alot of which are made from coconut oil, which is supposed to be really healthy for you. And the smell ain't bad too! At least we like it around here. 

So, that's it for today's 

Fabulous Friday Favorite!

"Take your Child to Work" Day

Today, the two oldest have gone with their daddy to work. They were pretty excited about it. 

CB Richard Ellis plans for the kids to participate and understand more what goes on in a commercial real estate sales/leasing/marketing office.

Here is the agenda for their day.  

8:00 -9:00  Registration/Welcome Reception 

Michele Ziegler will take their photo.  Children will gather in large conference room and make their name tags for the days events. 

Children will be told what group they will be in. Snacks will be provided during this time. 

9:00 -9:30 Executive Welcome –Real Estate 101 

Scott will speak about what we do at CBRE and give facts about the company. He will also explain the events 

for the day. (Churee and Renee will ask the kids random questions throughout the day about the company) 

9:30 -9:45  Break 

9:45 -11:00 Building Our Future -TCC Group 

TCC Group to explain construction process, assign each child a title for the day and construct the building they 

will be selling at the end of the day. (Kids will be given pretend money to buy supplies, materials, etc.) 

11:00 -11:10 Break 

11:10 -12:00 Property Tour -Building Tour with Howard Newsome 

12:00 -1:00 Lunch -Pizza lunch in the conference room for children and parents. 

1:00 -2:30 Marketing Your Property 

Children will rotate to each center below to create the marketing materials for their property.  Each professional 

will assist the children with the tasks. 

Mapping: assist children with creating a map for project

Building Photos: will take photos of buildings constructed during development project -edit the one they want to use

Amenities:assist children with what amenities their building will offer and prepare marketing list

Team: assist children with listing team members and titles as well as short bio on each child’s experience 

Certificates: certificates with child’s photo for awards ceremony 

2:30-2:45 Presentation Skills and Coaching 

Christi Griggs to coach each team on what they need to do duringtheir presentation to sell their 

property during sales presentation 

2:45 –3:00 Rehearse Sales Pitch 

3:00 Sales Presentation 

All employees and parents will gather in the conference room to hear each team present their 

properties for sale.  People will bid on the properties and eachteam will get a buyer from the audience. 

3:15 Awards Ceremony 

Each child will receive a gift bag and a certificate of Achievement for the Day.

It should be quite an experience! 

I look forward to hearing all about it. 

And it should be quite a bit slower & quieter here today. 

Well, maybe not since I am getting ready for a big garage sale this weekend. 

I'll  just have two less kids in the way as I organize. 

I just know it's a good thing I don't have to get up every morning and get 3 people out the door, fed & dressed & happy by 7AM! 

Wishing for sleep.....

.....but since I am itching so bad, I can't lay down in this misery. Sleep just doesn't come easily when one's body is inflamed. I should mention though that my itching really has subsided during the daytime. Sure makes it easier to function as a mom (& teacher) when I only itch a few hours a day compared to 8 hours a day. I really am grateful. The supplement program I have been on for the past 3 weeks might be helping. I have felt a lot more energy that's for sure. My goal is to be healthier and really build my liver back up, as I have just been so deficient. I am hoping and praying that is taking place. 

But this night time itching is insane. Not only does it keep me from falling asleep, but sometimes during the night I might move and just start itching in various places on my body. I hate cold showers in the middle of the night. And I really don't like having to get ice packs to sleep on either. But sometimes that's been my only solutions lately. Or just to get up and get busy and try not to think about it until it goes away. 

 The only positive/good I see from this itching at night thing is PRAYING. I pray for many people. Those on my blog subscriptions, my family, other friends, facebook friends, and those who have shared specific requests with me. Keeping my mind focused elsewhere sometimes helps the time pass more quickly.

  And for now, until it subsides, I am keeping my hands busy typing this post and will share some recent pictures.  

We have some really great neighbors, in fact they aren't just our neighbors, they are THE Neighbors!  We have been blessed to have this Christian family live next door to us since last fall and they homeschool too! One certain child in particular lov

es it because they have 3 girls!!!! Tiff & her friend, Jordan, spend hours talking to each other and "playing" through the fence. They do crafts, eat lunch, read books, write each other letters, and more. If it was allowed, they'd both probably bring their school out there and do it everyday. But I have this feeling, they'd get sidetracked and not get much done.  

These two boys crack me up. Well, and other times make me extremely tired. 

Their energy level is continuous (unless sleeping) and their voices can be at such high decibals, it's almost deafening.  They are a delight to my heart though and I can't believe how fast they are growing up before my eyes!

And this son intrigues me. If he is not doing school, he seems to always be busy making, creating or building something. Although his daddy is the one who built this tree fort so high off the ground. But the finishing "touches" (i.e. sides/roof/extras) have been added by Zach.

Below, maybe you will notice the thin rope (more like string, actually) around his neck that is also attached to a thicker rope that is attached to something in the tree fort. 

Somehow I think this is not safe. 

After taking these pictures, I told him to come down and de-tach himself.

He has become my "special challenge" lately in the parenting department. I am needing daily wisdom from my Father as I train, discipline, and teach him. And the times he spends with his daddy is ever so valuable & needed right now. I hope & pray we're doing this parenting thing right.......no one said it would be easy, but there is no following a manual or a 1,2,3 step by step plan in all this. It's called seeking God and trusting Him. And continued prayers, love, & hugs.  

Lots of other things running through my head at 1:30 am, but it's all so jumbled up there, and making much sense at this late hour is not likely. 

And my itching has ceased for the moment, so I'm going to bed. 

Wednesdays are our busiest day of the week, and I already don't feel I'll have enough sleep to face it. I think I will fall asleep praying for those who I know that will be facing a much tougher Wednesday than I will.

 

HOT enough here!!!

Soccer Season: DONE!!!!!

Goodbye baby hair!!!

SO, should we or not???
Oh no, maybe NOT!!!!
     Well, that's wasn't so bad......
Me thinks I like it!!!
   And mommy thinks I still look CUTE!

"Papa with brown hair"

My little man found this picture tonight and wanted to show me "Uncle Micah" in it!  What is so funny is that he thought my dad was my brother! I had to tell him that it was actually "Papa with brown hair" and he thought that was so funny! And then as I told him who each kid was in the picture he just smiled and giggled about it....it really was SO cute!  

And that's us Wakefield kiddos with my dad just after Amanda was born. That's me on the far right holding my new baby sister. I was the age that my oldest is now. Just seeing the background in that picture brought back special memories.  

Baskin Robbins 31 cent night!