taniasboys

Sunday

2010-06-06T21:49:00.000-05:00

This day started on a sad note. Hubby got on a plane and left :( He is in New Orleans for the week. I told him... sorry, no fresh fish for you! :( I don't like it when he is gone!! But, the rest of the day was pretty decent! I got to help with a friends baby shower. She is going to have her baby on Wed. That makes me excited! :D I went to the store to get the stuff for the shower (cake... gifts....) While I was checking out, the lady asked if I was having a party.. I said ya a baby shower!! He will be born on Wed... she proceeded to ask me if it was my first!!????? So... Not that I didn't know already... but, I decided I NEED to loose weight. So, I have set myself a goal. 20 pounds by Aug. 6. That is 2 months. I am praying that God will decide that it is something that he can bless me with. I need to loose 100 but 20 is a good start!!! Anyway, here we go!
Thank you God for this Sunday. Thank you for friends to spend an afternoon with. Thank you for my boys, that I can trust home alone. Thank you for the blessing of food. Thank you for your faithfulness to help us in our ongoing striving to not sin. Thank you for even caring about my desire to not be gluttonous any more!

A week in review

2010-06-05T23:16:00.000-05:00

So, this has been a pretty good week! All in all that is. Had lots of family here last weekend for Erin's wedding!! That was fabulous!!! I LOVED having my sisters and brothers here!!!! Made me so happy! It was also very nice to have my hubby home for 4 days. The family all went home on Monday. That was a nice restful day. I didn't want the family to go home.. but it was a nice day. The rest of the week has been pretty normal. Ethan started his college classes. That was fun. He is really enjoying it. Especially his drama class. He said it is like grown ups playing and it is what they are supposed to do! hehe He is really enjoying logic so far too. He says both the teachers are nice and he has enjoyed being around other people.
Now I just have to get our school ordered for our new school year. I don't like to take too long off. I have never done a 3 month summer break. I am not planning on starting now! :D If I take too long of a break, I have a hard time getting back into it. I like being able to take weeks off here and there and not have to worry about it. Plus, I want to get used to the new "normal" of school.. our regular work along with Ethan's extra classes.
Hubby leaves town tomorrow for a week. I am going to make the kids help me with some big stuff while he is gone. I am hoping to get some painting done.. before the end of June I want to have the downstiars painted and the carpets cleaned. HA! dream on! hehe So, there is the update! Goodnight!!!

practicing what I preach

2010-05-24T22:50:00.000-05:00

In trying to get my house ready for company, one of the things that I have MOST dreaded, is cleaning.... Ez and Ashers rooms *duh duh duuunnnnnn* I don't know why, but for some reason my 2 youngest boys don't understand "clean". They see it in every other room in the house. They have to clean their rooms and their bathrooms every day. They have to vacuum and mop every day. But for some reason, it never really gets fully DONE. It will finally get to where I finally say "good enough" but it is never DONE. One of the things that I have told other moms for a LONG time is that kids will do what is expected of them. No more, no less. As much as I say, "they can't do that yet" or... "they aren't old enough yet" or.. "they aren't ready" They will happily sit aside and not do those things. I mean hey... more play time right? But if you say, this is how you do it, this is what I expect, and this is the consequence if you don't, they will do it! I have found myself guilty of doing to Ezekiel something that I always HATED when my parents did. I had my Ezekiel standard, and my every one else standard. I decided tonight, that enough is enough. I told the boys that I want their room spotless. I mean, under the bed, in the closet, I want it vacuumed even in the corners. Trash taken out, laundry taken down to be washed tomorrow, Like totally and completely CLEAN. I then sent Asher to start and told Ezekiel, you are the older brother. It is up to you to make sure it gets done. If it doesn't, you are the one that will be punished. You are almost 12 years old, you should be able to get a room clean like I expect it to be. Well guess what?? It was DONE totally and completely clean!!! I could see carpet! Even under the bed and in the closet!!! Just proves once more, you expect it... and they will do it!! YAY for one less thing on my list tomorrow!!!!

Date night

2010-05-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

I got a date night last night with my "little" boys. Saturday night is my date night with hubby, but he was busy last night so the boys and I went!

I mean really, can you think of any better or more handsome dates???? We went to Olive Garden which is a favorite of all of us. I think we spent the same amount we would have for hubby and I too, because he and I like to have a drink and usually go to a more pricey place! :D

My goofballs. I just love these kids!! I truly believe that date night is NECESSARY!! Especially between mom and dad. It is SO IMPORTANT to have that one night a week put aside for just time for just you! If money is an issue, you can go to chili's and get chips and queso and a soda for less that 20$. Or, you can go to the park and just take a picnic basket. You can even have "date night" in your own home. Make sure the kids are in their beds at a reasonable time and make a special din din just for you and daddy and be just married people again like you were before the little goofballs came along!!!
I also think it is important to "date" your kids! They all need to feel important and loved and have one on one time with mom/dad. I mean not just take them to mc donalds where you are going to meet friends and they are going to be running around playing. I mean, take them somewhere that doesn't have a play place and just sit and talk to them!! Maybe both of you order off the childrens menu or let the kid order off the adult so he/she feels on the same level as mom/dad. Go someplace fun and talk to them and let them know that you love them!! Not just ya mom loves me she tells me and she takes care of me.. but my mom LOVES me! She takes me out and we have special dinner together and I can talk to her without my siblings talking over me or taking her attention away!! Super important and fun time!!!
Ok, stepping off my soap box now. I am going to post a couple more pics of "date nights" with my guys!

college kid

2010-05-11T21:21:00.000-05:00

Well, this is all about Ethan. He is my oldest baby. He is 14 and 1/2 and is finishing his Sophomore year of high school. Which makes him able to do the early college start at ACC. He can take 2 classes a semester for free. Thats right.. FOR FREE!!! He did really well on most of his entrance test. He didn't do as well in the math section as he could have, but he can retake that. All that means, is he won't take any math based classes this summer. But that is ok because I want him to take fun classes to start with so he can get used to being in a classroom situation for the first time in his life. And get used to being taught. So, he is taking an acting class and logic. Anyone who has heard my hubby's favorite joke will understand that decision. He is happy and excited, and we are too! I am excited that he is growing up and moving on to the next stage of life. I am happy that he has been able to get through the things he needed to and do well enough to be able to be starting college classes right now. Lord willing, I would love to have him as close to done with a degree as possible by the time he is 18 so he can just get on with his life and get a job and just be done with school. God is so good!! Keep praying for us!

Mothers day

2010-05-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, was mothers day. I had such a GREAT DAY!!! My boys spoiled me rotten! It started on Saturday. They left me here to relax while they went shopping. They were gone for a few hours. I started to think they were lost!! I texted Ethan and told him to make sure they got me something good! He said they would get me bubble gum if I was good. :D After a while I decided to go lay down in bed and rest until they got home. When they got home, Ez and Ash came upstairs to "keep me company" while hubby and Ethan brought my present up to me. A few minutes later, they came up the stairs struggling under the heavy load of a big box. They were grunting and sweating. They were talking to each other about the best way to get this big box around the corner at the top of the stairs. They stopped outside my bedroom and said that I needed to come out to see it cause they couldn't carry it anymore. I went into the hall and took the tape off the top of the box... with complete excitement I opened this box that was so big, I could have fit comfortably in it sitting up! And there, wrapped carefully in plastic wrap, was my roll of bubble tape! HAHAHAHA I was sooo happy!!! Just what I wanted!!!! Then they suggested that I come downstairs with them to enjoy my gum. I came down the stairs and looked in the living room and there was A NEW CHAIR!!! They got me an extra wide rocker/recliner chair!!!!! I LOVE IT!!! I can rock.. I can put my feet up. I can lay ALL THE WAY DOWN!!! flat!!!!!! It is amazing!!! Then, hubby took me out to dinner for a date at what has become my favorite restaurant here in Austin. Then yesterday, we went to church. Then I got to rest in my new comfy chair all afternoon. Then my boys took me to dinner at IHop!! yayayay!!! That was my mothers day. I hope every one else had a great one!!

New house arrangement

2010-05-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

I am excited to report, we have a new home for our playroom!!! Up until now it has been downstairs in what should be our formal living room. For those that know us, we are NOT formal people.. so it isn't about having a formal living room. I just need to have my house to where I don't feel like I am living in a messy hole all the time. :D With all the kids toys and stuff upstairs, I have my whole downstairs to be "grown up space". I feel like my house is more of a grown up house now! :) We are going to put a TV in the office with the computers so that the video games and all that can be upstairs too. And they can watch their shows up there. They are excited. I need to take a picture of the "bed room" now cause there are 2 double size beds in there.. and then Gavin's little bed. lots of bed... NO floor space. hahahaha Gavin is THRILLED to be included in the bed room. Fun fun! And... ITS FRIDAY! I get my honey for 2 days now! :D yay! Happy mothers day weeked!

Baby Asher turns 10!!!!!

2010-05-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

So, it has been 10 years since I had my last little baby boy. I can't believe that I am finally to the point that I have no little ones any more. No one in the single digits!! Big steps!! I am so happy to be here!!
Asher is so smart, so happy, caring, giving, precious. Of course he has his... ahem... moments... but so do I!! :D I love my sweet baby boy!! I tried to put up lots of pics.. and it didn't work. So, for now.. just this one recent one *although he has gotten a hair cut now* hehe
I love you my sweet baby boy!

Here it is

2010-05-03T22:00:00.001-05:00

Can you believe it? I did it already!!! Here is my new blog!!!

http://wordsofthankfulness.blogspot.com/

Please "follow" me.. read it.. help me!! I will continue to use this one for updates/pics/ and posts about the family and our daily lives so don't erase this one!!! thanks friends!

Changing things up.

2010-05-02T21:14:00.002-05:00

I am deciding to change things up a bit here on my blog. I have been trying to blog about life... but my life just isn't that interesting.. hehehe so... I am going to change things up a little and play and try to get a new look and a new site and everything... Instead of trying to have it just about family life, I am going to make it a little more personal. Talk about my personal life journey that God has me on. I am not leaving blog spot.. I will just have a new title and I will let everyone know. I will still use this one too for updates on the kids. Like Asher's birthday on Tuesday :)! If anyone can suggest things I can do and ways to personalize it better.... that would be great!

New day

2010-02-25T09:23:00.002-06:00

Well, after a long talk the other day with Ez, he finally (not really repentantly....) but FINALLY admitted to the cheating... I was talking to him about how when he is lying about something and insists on staying in that lie.. he is a liar.. and I can't believe anything he says. So, he tells me he did something, I have to check. If he says he didn't do something, I can't believe him. That really bothered him because he was trying to convince me that he hadn't done something else that i was accusing him of. So, he had to tell the truth about the cheating to try to get me to believe the other. I still don't believe that he wasn't lying about the other, but it is a step in the right direction.. And I think he understands the problem and how and why it needs to stop. We also had a long talk about responsibility and disciplining yourself. He has been better about chores the last 2 days too after that. I don't hold my breath that this will keep up, but it is a step in the right direction at least! Thanks for all the help!!

Weather and what-not

2010-02-23T09:51:00.002-06:00

Well, today is quite a day here in Round Rock!! It is SNOWING!! And the snow is STICKING!!! Both nearly unheard of occurrences here. There are HUGE flakes falling right now. I am NOT totally thrilled. My kids are happy.. and of course, that makes me happy... but weather effects me physically. here is the thing... Cold makes me hurt.. but if I am inside where it is warm, I am not too bad.. but the CHANGE of weather is what kills me... and here, it can't get much worse!!! On Sunday it was 75 degrees and now, it is snowing and 34 degrees. There was a 30 degree drop between sunday and yesterday. That is what kills me! So, I guess if I lived somewhere that it was snowing or rainy alot... and I could be inside most of the time.. that would be ok. I just need to not have these big flip flops!!!

On to the "what not" part of the post. I am trying to figure out the best way to deal with something in my home and I would LOVE all the advice I can get. My son, has been doing A LOT of lying. And I mean.. when he knows he is caught.. he stays insisting on his lie. I have punished.. I have talked to him about what God thinks of lying... Last night he finally confessed *in a very quick not really repentant way* to his lie, when I told him that by staying in his lie.. he has become a liar.. so I can't believe anything he says. I don't know how to make him see that this can't go on and that he has to be honest... I have been getting so frustrated recently with my younger boys. I feel like a failure of a mom most of the time.. and they are REALLY GOOD BOYS. There are just some things.. and some times.. that I can't get them to decide to do the right thing. I pray for them.. and I talk to them... they all claim to be living for God so I try to talk to them from a Biblical standpoint, but I don't know if they don't get it.. or don't care, or just aren't wired to understand yet. I am open to any and all suggestions on how to deal that I haven't done. I also worry that I am expecting my kids to be PERFECT, which I know they can't be...
That is the update from here! I hope all is well for all my friends out there!!!

new years eve pictures

2010-01-27T10:43:00.003-06:00

What a week!

2010-01-27T10:27:00.002-06:00

Ok.. so it has been more than a week.. and I promised New years Eve pics that I haven't posted.. I think what I am going to do, is start doing a post with words.. and then do another post with pictures... I just get too frustrated with trying to put the pictures where I want them to be!! :) yes, I am too easily frustrated! hahahaah In my mind.. if you put a picture up after you write words, that is where the picture should go.. NOT all the way at the top to where you have to drag it all around to put it where you think it should have gone automatically in the first place!!
Anyway, so far 2010 has not been a whole lot different than 2009.. :) My 2 little boys have been in alot of trouble.. I am trying to figure out how to make them aware of their heart choices. Not let them get away with "I didn't think about it" or "I forgot" or... anything like that but to realize everything they do (or don't do) is a choice.. and that choices come from the condition of our hearts alot of the time. Or, maybe all the time. But that if they can't make a right choice to not do what they know they shouldn't or to remember to do what they know they should when they are here.. and safe and cared for.. they aren't going to make those right choices when they are out in the world and have none of the same Godly conditions.
I don't know really how to do this.. so I grounded them to their rooms. They have to keep their space clean without having to be reminded to clean it and to get their school work done without having to be told that it is school time. I figure if they are in their rooms, every time they think about wanting to not be.. they will think about why they are and maybe some changes will start to be made. That is my hope anyway. This parenting thing is SO HARD. I mean I never thought it was easy.. but I guess there are days that I realize that I thought that it would be a little more easy now than it is.. I mean, it is easier than it was when they were little. But I just want it to be EASY. I know I am fooling myself right. Ethan really is in the "easy" category most of the time. I hope the younger boys will get there too! Maybe this will be a kick in the right direction!! Or, it will be more than 3 weeks of their wasted time and some peace and quiet for me. .hahaha
Hubby is getting ready to leave town for a week. I HATE when he has to be gone. But at least this time, there is something exciting to look forward to at the end! *besides him coming back which I always look forward to* I have a friend coming to see me!!! YAY! And this is a friend that I haven't seen since we were in 2nd grade!!! For anyone that isn't fabulous at math.. it has been about 25 years since we have seen each other!! It is amazing to both of us that God implanted us so deeply in each others hearts that even after all this time we have both thought often of each other and wanted to be back in contact. We both know that lots of time has past, although it feels like we have never been apart. That is how easy our friendship is. I am enjoying getting to know her as an adult, and I can't wait to show her pics of all my life experiences that she wasn't able to be there for, and I can't wait to share some with her!!! Anyway, that is our life in a "nutshell" I will post some pics now! Which of course, will be what you see FIRST.. but ah well, I will get this figured out sooner or later!!

update

2009-12-30T10:44:00.002-06:00

Ok, so here is the scoop for the last Wed. of the year! First of all, we LOVE New Years Eve!! That is one of our fave days of the whole year! We spend the evening with junk food, movies, games, and all over family fun!! This year we have invited 3 families from our church to join us. I think that will make it even more fun!!! if they all come, there will be a total of.. 11 kids and 8 adults! :D plus, one baby in the belly, but I don't think that peanut counts yet.. :D I will take and post LOTS of pics! :) The other decission that has been made, is after 15 days of trying this diet and vitamin thing... hubby and I decided to stick with the vitamins, but not be so strict on the diet. It was just too hard for me, and I haven't noticed ANY good from it at all... I am in MORE pain and feeling more and more sick every day. I can't function that way. I have 5 kids to take care of every day.. I have to be able to do it in a good attitude and with less pain.. I am still doing the vitamins and will still do very little sugar... but for now the dairy and bread and all is back. I will slowly cut those back out as time goes on and see if things improve.. just take it a little more slowly. We are in prayer that this week or next we will get an answer on hubby's promotion. We would LOVE for him to get the job because it puts him in a better place to get the job he ACTUALLY wants. hahaha It will be hard to get used to the new schedule though. Anyway, I guess that is it for today. I will post more on Friday when we have a new year and new pictures! :)

Big day out

2009-12-26T17:50:00.005-06:00

Due to my health... A big day out for us.. is going to the mall for a little while. :S my poor kids.. but they did get new hats, that made them happy! :) and we got our annual Hickory Farms.. so we are pleased!! Just wish I could eat them!!! Now I am feeling a little over done.. but the kids had a fun day so, that is what matters!!! Enjoy the pictures!!!

better

2009-12-22T18:10:00.003-06:00

See... told you I would be better 2 times in one week can you believe it?!?! I guess I just think my life is boring right now.. hahhaha Well, we have all been sick.. blah... I think my program is going well. I have stuck to it.. I am pretty proud of myself. Not that I have WANTED to stick with it all the time.. but I have. Still don't know about hubbies promotion.. hope he gets it.. sorta. :) Well I promised you pictures... to be honest.. they will be first.. before the words.. cause I can't figure out how to get them to go anywhere else without me moving them.. so by the time you read this, you will have seen them!! :) more later.

My once a month post...

2009-12-18T21:52:00.008-06:00

I don't know how this has turned into something I don't do very often... I love connecting on here!! I am really going to try to do better!!! to start, I am going to do a GOOD post!! Pics and everything!!! I don't have a recent pic of me up.. cause I don't like pics of me.. so.. here is one. :)

Lets see... guess I put the pic of me up first.. so I will start talking about me.
I just started a new umm... program... to try to help my fibro.. it consists of LOTS of vitamins.. some hormones.. and a *gulp* diet... I think I can handle the 34+ pills every day. But MAN is it HARD to give up the foods that you love. I know it is good for me.. and if it helps, I will be THRILLED. And hey, worst case, maybe I will loose some weight!! *please Lord* So, I have done this for 5 days now. My desire for sweets and bread and milk and cheese are maybe a little less... maybe not. I don't know if my attitude is making it worse, or.. ya.. prolly.
The other new thing with me, is I have started babysitting a new little boy. He is 7 weeks old.. and he is a doll!! We are really enjoying having a bitty one around again.. especially since he goes home at night and I get to sleep all night.. (sorry Sarah... *wink*) So that is me.

Ethan... My biggest "baby" We found out while in Abq that he is about 5' 9-10" ish.. and *thanks to the shiping scale at DCI* know that he is 175 pounds. I look at this handsome, sweet, helpful, great kid.. and I go.. you are 14????????? My first thought is ALREADY??? Quickly followed by... ONLY?????? He acts sooo old but is so young still. He will start driving next year. Yes, I said DRIVING wow. This is wierd. He is doing really well in 10th grade. He is enjoying his one day school that he goes to for math and guitar. I don't know if he likes it for the learning as much as he does for the social time. He is getting really good at the guitar. Jeremy taught him the basics.. he has worked on that on his own since we got here and taught himself some. I am really glad to be able to have him back in lessons so that he can really grow and learn and enjoy his music... and getting a little bit more timing training won't hurt.. :)
We have also had our first experiance with a "special girl" this year. She is a doll. She and Ethan are good friends. I know there has been a disagreement between them that has lowered her... "special" status.. *we don't do the boyfriend girlfriend thing.. but if we did, you could say they broke up.. :)* It is strange to be in this place.. because A. we didn't think it would be coming so soon.. and B. it is a deffinately learn as you go thing... I don't ever want him to think that we don't value his feelings as a person. Make him think that he couldn't have "real" feelings for a person. BUT we are working hard at training him on GUARD YOUR HEART!!! God has a special girl just for you and you want to be able to give her all of you.. and what you give to other girls too soon, can't go to her!! On the positive side.. they are so young.. there was no, hand holding.. or anything else.. so, innocent as it can be but still a milestone.

Ezekiel. He has always been the "special" one. He has the sweetest spirit of any kid I think I know. I don't know how many times in his 11 *yes 11* years I have heard " I like all your boys, but there is something special about MY Ezekiel" He has belonged to everyone that has ever known him!! This child for the first time this last year has learned about people that don't just love him. It is completely heart breaking to think about but he has been picked on quite abit this last year. Most of it comes from a couple girls. If I was like my mom, I would tell him "they think you are cute" or.. "they like you and just don't know what to say" but I don't want my son to think that people need to treat him bad to show him that they care about him. So I tell him, you can ask them to stop and if they don't, you can leave the situation and come be with me. I have talked to the mothers *as it is at our church fellowship which is VERY small* and they have worked on dealing with the issue on their end, which is good.. but MAN is it hard to not just yell at these kids and say don't you know that you TREASURE a great person like this, not PICK on him?!?! I mean really, if your chips are down, Ez is the one you want on your side. He will cry with you, cuddle with you, laugh with you, whatever you need!!
On the positive side, this has been a HUGE growth year for him!! He will complain that as far as PHYSICAL growth.. that is going slowly.. but man.. School this year has been as easy with him as it always has been with the other 2. He has actually gotten 100% on a language test!! That is almost UNHEARD of with him. He has a hard time with learning *like his mom* and to see him growing like this is amazing!!! God is so good!!! He still doesn't ENJOY school, but it also doesn't take all day and he is getting things more right, less wrong. He is also my little chef! He LOVES to cook! I realized one day that he is 11.. I need to let him in the kitchen if he wants to go there, so.. I have been and man has it paid off! I have had some great meals cause of that!! :) He still says he wants to go into the military when he turns 18. I support him in that.. and pray for him in that!!

Asher. What to say about Asher. He is the one of any of them that I think we pray for and worry about more than the others. He is the only one of our 3 that has not made a personal confession of Christ. Which on the one hand is good. I don't want him saying what he thinks we want to hear but he doesn't believe. His faith has to be a true, lasting faith given by Christ alone and I don't want him saying that is there if it isn't. On the other hand, a mothers heart yearns to know her child will live in eternity with her.. and more importantly, with her God!! But, he is only 9. I don't know that I need to worry TOO much yet. This little one, has always been our hand full. He is a perfectionist TO THE EXTREME! Now I don't mean that he always has a clean room, or that he doesn't make mistakes. But if you tell him to get his room clean. It will be CLEAN. If he is supposed to get school done, it is done and it is done well. Ask Miss Joyce.. since he was a little bitty guy, he has HATED anything imperfect. Down to scribbling when coloring as a 2-3 year old... He still has a bit of a problem with anger that we are dealing with but not as often as it was. I pray that it continues to get better, but I have my concerns that with him getting closer to puberty, and without God to help.. we may be in for a bumpy ride in the next few years.
Asher will drop anything to do anything for you. Although he won't just notice it needs done.. :) He will literally give you the coat off his back if that will help you. But in a lot of ways, he is the baby.. the youngest.. man, he can act spoiled sometimes.. *my fault, I know* I try hard to make him be as responsible as we expected of his brothers at his age.. which is hard when they had different expectations at that age than each other too.. *did that make sense???* well, anyway..
I am loving the ages all my kids are at!! We are having a GREAT time! We have such a blessed life. I love the stages my kids are in. So fun!

Hubby. Sorry the pic isn't great... it is just the most recent I have of him. Guess I need to take some better ones.. :) I am married to the BEST man God ever created. He is patient when I am not... He is caring and loving when I need it. He is strong and hard when I need it.. *although that can be no fun for both of us* He is a superb provider, a wonderful partner and a perfect friend.
He had an interview at work the other day for a promotion. We should find out end of Dec. to beg. of Jan if he got it. This could be a good/bad thing. Good.. obvious reasons.. promotion... that means higher place.. higher pay *in theory* and different position so learning more things... all good.. BUT they will prolly change his hours... well, not prolly, for sure. He will have to go to mon-fri. instead of having 4 work days a week. We aren't sure about the actual hours yet.. not too worried about it till we know if he got the job. But we like where his hours are at now.. so... anyway. We are praying for our will's to be in line with God's will so whatever he has determined will happen, will be easy for us to take! :)

Ok I am done for now... sorry when I don't write in so long... I have alot to say!! Next post *hopefully soon* I will post lots o pics... PROMISE!!

Amazing things

2009-12-02T05:10:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are again at one of my *probably now infamous* all nighters. Again God decided that last night, for me, was not going to be a night of peaceful sleep. At this point I am really hoping for a GREAT nap... because we are supposed to drive all night tonight.. *now that it is 5:30 Wed. morning* to drive to Alb. We are so excited to be coming for the wedding of my sweet dear sister *who I have to share with my hubby.. GRIN* to Sam, who has been my brother in my heart for years. We are so amazed at Gods sovereignty and timing in all things. I knew YEARS ago that this day would be here. We just had to wait on God... *and that stubborn Sam....* hahahaha I can't believe that our sweet little Eden is getting married. It blows my mind. She is now our sweet just a bit bigger Eden of course.. but the fact that she is a woman and going to be a wife is just beyond my imaginings this early in the morning. I am so proud to call her my sister and I am equally proud to be able to call Sam *Fred* my brother.
The other thing that God has decided to do recently, is bless us with a minivan. We have some amazing friends here in RR, that go to our church, that like to camp.. as the story goes. So, they bought a pop up trailer. Well, they soon came to realize that all the added weight wasn't good on their van. Instead of giving up their beloved camping, they bought a suburban.
That was in like... oh... July or August I guess... maybe even June.... hmmmmm anyway, I BEGGED God and my husband for this van. It is a 2000 Toyota. I know 10 years old isn't a new vehicle by any means, but they are very good stewards of what God gives them.. so this van is in AMAZING shape for its age. Well, my husband had decided that at this time in our lives, we couldn't add another bill, so no... we couldn't buy their van. I prayed and breathed.. and submited. Then, the van was still there.... and still there.... and every once in a while, I would hit my hubby up with a "what if" ... you know.. "what if" I were able to make some money and pay a monthly bill for it.... "what if" you pay off this bill, then we have "extra" money right? well, of course, every suggestion was met by a no... and every time I saw this van that I love so much, I had to pray... and breathe... and quietly submit.
I haven't been going to church that much recently as my health has gone down hill quite a bit.. and sitting through a church service that sometimes can go as long as 2-2 1/2 hours... I just don'tgo.. cause I can't sit through that long. Well, I guess on one such Sunday several weeks ago, our friends told my husband that they wanted to GIFT us with this van. This van that I have loved and in my heart called my own and prayed to God that if it was meant for us, it wouldn't sell before we had the means to buy it!! My husband tried to argue, because it is such a tremendous gift *Toyota's don't loose value as fast as other cars* But our friend very quickly pulled the "God has told us this is what we are supposed to do" card.. and hubby couldn't argue with that.
Well, somewhere along the way it was decided that I wasn't going to be told. It was going to be a surprise for me. So very innocently, Kathy asked me a couple weeks ago, if we could get together for dinner before we left for Abq on this trip. I thought through all we had going on and said.. ya Tuesday we could come over. She said that would be great! Then, hubby got Wed. off and I threw out there.. hey, now we could go to Abq sooner, because you don't have to work!! And he said, no.. we made a commitment for dinner with our friends, and we aren't going to break that commitment. So, I said, ok. I can't wait to fellowship with this wonderful family anyway!!
So, we are sitting around talking and visiting *not realizing how late it was getting...* and Steve gets up and offers us more tea.. or water... and while he is innocently standing at the counter he says.. hey Tania, are these your keys on the counter over here? I said.. no I left my purse at home.. I don't have any keys here. I looked at my husband and said.. are they yours? He said no.. and Steve says.. no, I really think they are yours. I turned and looked and it was the key to their van. I was speachless. ok... sorry.. I should have made sure you were sitting.. I know.. ME ... SPEACHLESS!! that doesn't even happen on paper does it!! But really, at first it was... no... they are kidding.. then it was.. did hubby buy it and not tell me..??? and then it was... WHAT?! and then I was just shaking for the next like... 30 minutes.. and then.. I got in the van.. in the DRIVERS SEAT! and I couldn't stop bouncing around like a puppy looking at the back door!!!
WHAT A BLESSING!!! So, turns out.. we couldn't skip dinner and come to the Q earlier becuase, we were going to have a nice comfy VAN to drive instead of our cramped, uncomfortable truck!!! See... told ya!! Amazing things!!!! Isn't God great!?!?! Like there was a doubt... Then, he decides, that I am going to be up all night... well, as long as there is a nap in my not to distant future, I guess, I can cope!!! Ok.. that is my update!! Loves and hugs!!

Why...

2009-11-19T13:44:00.002-06:00

Ok.. here is my gripe of the day.. Why is it that bone in chicken is so STINKING hard for me to get right?!!?!? I mean.. I can work miracles with boneless meat!! But put a chicken leg in front of me and lunch is going to take FOREVER! I have had chicken in the oven now for.... 2 hours.. and it is still bleeding... now is it just me or does that seem a little LONG to anyone else!?!??! Yes, the oven is ON... it is on at the temp that the recipe called for! I just don't understand. If it was boneless peices, it would be finished by now and we would have happily full tummies... instead of smelling the deliciousness that we can't taste yet for fear of illness and or death!!! :S Ok... I feel better now.. thank you for letting me get that off my chest! :)

A day of reflection...

2009-11-05T17:05:00.003-06:00

Today has been quite a day of reflection for me. This day marks the end of my 14th year as a mom. I can't believe that it has been that long. So much has happened in that time!!!
I like to start the day teasing my kids with, at this time.. so and so years ago.. I was at this stage in labor... Of course, with Ethan that started EARLY Saturday morning the 4th of Nov. and didn't end until a c-sec at about 11:30 Sunday Nov. 5. So I REALLY give him a hard time. haha of course, I tell him the hardest to deliver has been the easiest to raise, so at some point I have to give him a break on the birth thing.. hahah
I went from being a *semi* carefree teenager, to being a single mom. Not as bad as it is for some single moms cause of course my son's dad was super involved and paid for everything so I didn't have to work... We have gotten married, had 2 more kids... I have homeschooled... which I never pictured doing, and anyone who knows me knows it is a miracle that I have made it this long!! I can look back and say.. I taught him to talk, to walk.. I potty trained him.. taught him to read, to write.. to do addition and subtraction. God is so good to give me the time and the ability and giving me His patience to get through and teach him all of this!!!
We have gone through loosing my mom. That was hard on everyone. In some ways, hardest on Ethan. I wish she could have been around to see the man he is growing into. God has blessed me with such a sweet, kind, funny, handsome, playful, cute, helpful, affectionate, all over great young man. I know she would be more proud of my boy today than she was the day he was born.. .and she was REALLY proud that day! hahah 2 rolls of film before he was 24 hours old.. :) Oh if there had been digital pictures then... I think everyone in the US and overseas that my mom had ever met would have had pictures of him!!!
I have grown so much as a mom, and a wife and a person in the last 14 years. I know I owe alot of it to Ethan. Things I see in myself through him that I realize I need to change. Things I want him to know and learn that he can't if I don't teach him. Learning that the best way to teach is through what they see in my life. I really have to be super careful about how I act, what I say, what I do.. and the older that I get.. and the older that he gets.. the more stuff comes up!!
I want to take this opportunity to thank God for my son. Thank God for the blessing that He gave to us 14 years ago in the form of this person that is so incredible that I couldn't be prouder of!!! Thank you to my mom and dad for my life.. and to Rick and LaRee for Jedidiah's life.. without them, I would have no life, no husband and no children to enrich my life every day.
Thank you to my friends that have been here for me for all these years. I would not have made it without them. This life that I have been molding and shaping and loving and nurturing for all these years, only has 4 more years of our guidance till he is an adult and is "on his own". I covet all the prayers and suggestions and help and love that I can get over these next 4 years of final preperation. Out of everything in my parenting life, I have prayed for God to guide me in raising 3 generous, prosperous, wonderful men of God. The closer 18 creaps to us, the more I am reminded of just how helpless and useless I really am in this process ultimately!
Thanks for "listening" to my little speach.
I love you my Ethan.. Happy birthday to my sweet son!!!

New school year

2009-10-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

Well, we finally got our new school books. So, we are back into our schedule of starting school at 9 am. That has been nice. And live every year the first week has gone pretty well! The kids really get excited about school at the beginning because it is all new.. I have been in a pretty bad flair, I just started steroids yesterday, so I am feeling a little less pain today, but the steroids make me feel blech too.. so, I am just resting... but hey, I did school with the boys on the couch today! Whatever works right?! And we got it all done. My hubby and the kids got the house spotless for me on monday.. hubby even shampooed the carpets.. and the boys have a new chore schedule. So it is nice to sit in a nice clean house, with the boys chores all done. Everyone can relax and have fun for the afternoon. I have to go to court tomorrow... I got a ticket that I am fighting. So, that is the excitement of the week!!! Pray for favor to come my way!!! Enjoy the snow in Abq!!! I will enjoy the warm weather here!!

Here in Texas

2009-10-12T15:26:00.002-05:00

Here in Texas, there is not much going on. We aren't doing any real school yet.. the boys are just doing math still. Hubby is out of town for 2 weeks. This is the second Oct in a row that hubby has gone out of town for a couple weeks. I don't think this is something I want to continue. :)
I am taking some new meds for my fibro that I think are helping some.. I have been in pain this week, but the weather has been starting to change drastically, so that might be the reason. Other than this week, I seem to be doing much much better. Ethan is doing well in Algebra. He enjoys going to class. He has really been wanting more social time than he ever has before... thats been strange hahaha Ezekiel is growing up alot. I don't know that he has gotten physically bigger, but he looks older and is starting to act a little more mature.. Asher is getting older too. He is still the baby and as such, he still has some attitude issues that we need to deal with. I am getting ready to start babysitting for a new baby. He will be born the end of this month. That is going to be fun! So when we get back from Abq. from the wedding, I will have a new little baby in the house again. :) At least it is a boy.. we know how to do boy. hahaha Hope all is well with everyone!! Sorry for the delay, i just don't feel like I have alot to tell... :)

6 AM

2009-09-09T06:20:00.002-05:00

Here I sit.. 6 AM.. After another night that I was up.. all night long. Every attempt to sleep failed... These nights are happening more and more often. I think I am going to have to ask my Dr for something. I hate the thought that I have to take something just to get the sleep that I need. I am having a feeling sorry for myself moment. I try not to... but it is hard. I don't want to take drugs to sleep. I don't want to take drugs to get through the day without pain.. I want to be able to do all the things that other young moms like me can do. I want to walk my kids to the park.. I want to have the energy to go grocery shopping and then still be able to do something fun with my kids. I am tired of being bored out of my mind.. and SO LONELY and not be able to do anything with anyone. I am frustrated with myself for being unhappy about being where God wants me. I love my family. I love my hubby I love my wonderful, beautiful boys. I love my house. I don't want to complain about the one hard thing that God has asked me to endure. I keep hoping with each new thing we try, that I might get a little better.. and each time I am disappointed. I am to where I don't even want to hope. I just want to get by. I just want to go through a whole week that I don't feel like a failure as a mom and a wife. Where I can feel like I did for my family what I should be doing. I want my boys to know that I do all that I can with them, and that I wish I could do more. Ok.. I will stop complaining now. Thanks for listening..and thanks for praying.

our Friday

2009-08-28T23:19:00.002-05:00

Thought a new picture of the boys was in order! This was taken this afternoon. We went back to the house of our friends that have the horses! Today though.. the kids got to RIDE THEM! Well, one of them.. and the two little boys... she had a small saddle on Mocha and Ethan needs the big one.. they were going to put the other saddle on and let Ethan ride... but that never happened. He was ok though.. He was too busy texting his friends about how I killed him and asking what they wanted from his "estate" hahahaha He was in a silly mood. :)
When we left Staci's house, we took her and Jed.. Her son.... not my hubby.. hehe.... out for ice cream. That was fun! Thanks Staci!! That is about it for now!!

New year

2009-08-24T09:42:00.002-05:00

As everyone I know is gearing up to start a new year of school, we are still at the tail END of our year.. you know.. the time where you are going, should I make them finish all of every book.. what did I do wrong this year that I want to change for next... when do I order the new books to be ready to start up.. am I going to give them any time off? All that. This year we are going to have some differences than we have had in the past. Ethan is signed up to be in what is called one day academy. He will go from 10-1 every Wednesday. He is going to be taking guitar for 30 minutes and then math for an hour and a half. He is taking Algebra 1. He is excited because it is a chance for some social time with his friends during the week. He will get to stay through lunch so they can eat together. Don't think anyone is in his class.. but, he will get to eat with them. Ezekiel and Asher are going to be in pre algebra this year. Thats kind of scary!! They are just 1 level behind Ethan in math because I held Ethan back and Ez is right on track, and Asher is ahead! Ezekiel is going to start 7th grade and Asher will be in 6th and Ethan will be 10th... They are getting big so fast. It is wonderful1 :) I love how big they are getting and how smart and handsome and amazing!! They are such a blessing! I will put up current pictures in a couple days *after I take some.. hehehe*
Happy monday!

Ezekiel turned 11!!!!

2009-08-11T10:20:00.002-05:00

So, our little boy is 11!!!!! We had a great time! He got a bed for his birthday, bed and a side table actually.. which he is THRILLED with. We went to see a movie *G-Force* it was cute! We went early enough in the day that we got to go fairly cheap.. I hadn't heard of "early bird" price at the movies... but it works for me!!! Then we got all cleaned up and ready for his party!!! There were LOTS of people here. My son *as you all know* is a well loved little boy!! I will post some pics of the party. Oh.. He also made his own birthday cake!! *you would be proud Sarah :)* He did a sour cream chocolate cake with sour cream chocolate frosting.. He did a small variation though.. he decided to add caramel chips to the batter of the cake, and to put strawberries on top! Came out yum! He actually made 2.. he wanted a double decker one, but that wouldn't be enough.. so we also made a sheet cake. :) So proud of my little chef. For a gift from a friend, he got a couple chefs hats and a new cookbook! :) he is thrilled! Anyway, so there is the update! I will put pics up now! love ya!

Goings on

2009-08-04T11:08:00.002-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.. I haven't done much of anything. Healthwise, I think I am on the uphill swing. I hope... Today, hubby and the kids are in Dallas seeing his family. I am hanging out at home, hoping to get up enough energy to do something today. Thursday is Ezekiels birthday so we are getting all ready for that! He is so excited! Turning 11 is a big deal I guess.. hahaha
The kids are happy cause they get the week off school for his birthday. So, they had off while they were in Abq. now off again! We will never be done at this rate!! sheesh! Anyway, that is about the gist of it all.. nothing is going on here.. nothing new anyway. Have a great day!

home update

2009-07-19T19:20:00.002-05:00

Well, I did take pictures the other day... but on my phone... and I don't have the piece I need to download them to the PC.. Ethan has it.... Anyway.. I posted them on FB and I will get them on here soon.. So, besides the cooking... this week has held lots of information. First and biggest.. Erin is engaged! Josh is a great guy! He spent the day here at my house with all of us and his kids. They are really well behaved, sweet kids! A good day was had by all, with the exception, at times of Erin because Gavin was deciding to be a snot.. :)
The rest of what is going on with me is, trying to learn to deal with my house being in not as great shape as I would like it. I am still dealing daily with pain and exhaustion in ammounts that I am not used to. I have very little in reserve and what I do have... I don't have to give to cleaning most days. Makes me insane.. and makes me feel lazy... but it is what it is. I am trying to turn it over to God and to learn to deal. I guess the old addage love me for me.. not my house.. is going to have to come into play! Anyway, that is about it! Happy Sunday!

Girl day!

2009-07-16T10:00:00.002-05:00

I am really excited today because I get to trade my boys.. for a girl! My friend is going to trade me my boys... to help her clean the garage... for her daughter... who is going to bake with me!!! YAY!! I am super excited!!! The boys love to cook and I love to cook with them. But it will be fun to have a girl to play with!! hahaha Pictures coming soon! :)

3 AM

2009-07-01T06:07:00.000-05:00

Did you know there was such a thing!?!?!? I surely wish I didn't.. I have these days.. where I wake up SUPER EARLY... because of different reasons.. and sleep... just won't come back to me. This was one of those days. I have now been awake for 3 hours.. and it is only 6 AM... I am getting ready to go get in the shower.. and get dressed and start my day for real.. sigh. Should find out within the next 2 hours the results of my bloodwork. I hope everything is ok.. but I also hope.. He finds SOMETHING to give me some sort of answer. I am so in need of feeling somewhat better. I know God has a plan.. and a purpose.. and it is for my good.. and His glory.. I know that.. I just need.. a little boost.. Something.. that is feeling better!!! Have a great Wed!!!

Monday

2009-06-29T13:47:00.002-05:00

Another quiet monday! Just got my house cleaned yesterday, got weeds pulled this morning..now I have to finish folding laundry.. Other than that just sitting around! Pretty exciting huh?! It is kinda nice to have the peace and quiet! :) Happy monday!

Wednesday

2009-06-24T17:47:00.003-05:00

Ok, so on hubby's birthday, we didn't get to go to melting pot *they raised their prices... RUDE* and we didn't get to go to a movie.. *nothing that we could take Ethan to.* But it was still a great day! At least, i think he had a great day! Today I took Gavin and Amberly to some friends house to swim. They had a great, great time!!! I took some pics. Ethan was there too.. but... he wasn't officially with me. :) He is helping a friend at her house for the next couple days. So, here are the pictures! Enjoy!

Amberly and Gavin when we first got there.

Ethan and Gavin and Amberly playing.

Ethan needs a floatie.. ;)

Amberly enjoyed the slide! :)

Dessert!!!

2009-06-22T14:58:00.002-05:00

Time for dessert!! Raspberry cream cheese brownies, with raspberries on top! YAY! I think I made hubby happy!! Then later, it is off to melting pot and a movie!! YAY

Lunch time!!

2009-06-22T13:23:00.003-05:00

Lunch! I made peppered steak in cream sauce, with crescent roll, and penne pasta with mustard greens cooked with panchetta and onion.. really yummy!! Dessert yet to come!

Honey's birthday: Breakfast

2009-06-22T10:49:00.002-05:00

I made crepe suzette for breakfast!! YUMMIE!! I couldn't flambe it because I used the wrong kind of pots and whatnot.. but.. it was still soo super good!! I got a picture of the breakfast, and of the groceries for the rest of the day!

Fathers day/birthday

2009-06-21T20:44:00.002-05:00

So today, is fathers day.. we didn't do much because tomorrow is my honey's birthday! I am going to make him lots of cool stuff! I am going to make him special breakfast... and lunch.. and dessert! And we might go to melting pot for dinner.. Anyway, I will take pics and keep you posted! Wish me luck!

Boys gone visiting

2009-06-18T07:53:00.002-05:00

Well, today is day 3 without my little boys. They left here on Tuesday with our friends to go to Abq to spend time with their grandparents. It is pretty strange... I don't remember the last time our house was this quiet! I have to have the tv on so it doesn't get too weird! I know they are having a great time! It was a pretty last minute decision. In the end, we put them in the truck with money.. and the clothes on their backs! So, granny gets to get them a few new outfits.. hehe Of course, this has also accomplished something else. Now my hubby has decided he is going to try to get 2 more days off work so we can go out there 5 days earlier than planed because he misses the boys too much. Guess thats a good thing! hahaha So, that is what is up with us!

Friends in town

2009-06-15T09:31:00.002-05:00

So, we have had some friends in town!! YAY!!! Jennifer and Lester got here on Saturday, a little weary from their day... That is their long story to tell... but, they got here! And we have had a fabulous time!! Unfortunately, they kids didn't get to come along *back to their long story....* but that has been ok too... We got rid of our kids yesterday too and the 4 of us had a terrific day downtown Austin! We went to lunch and to the capitol, which is beautiful!!
Today, is a little more normal day for us... they had an appointment in a town close to us, so they are gone till lunchtime prolly... and we are just doing school and those normal kinds of things. Then.. Jenn and I will go pick up their new truck.. and then tomorrow.. they have to go home.. :( butI am super happy for the time we have gotten!!! It has been a great time!! Have a good monday!!!

End of the week

2009-06-05T10:58:00.002-05:00

Well, we made it to the end of another week. Feel like I am playing catch up.. and am still WAY BEHIND!! It is hard when you are down for so long.. catching up feels impossible!! Any volunteers?! hahaha Ah well, 2 days of no school.. I can just catch up on grading and maybe I can get my kids out of the house and catch up some on cleaning!!! woo hoo! haha Have a good weekend!!

Whine

2009-05-30T20:48:00.002-05:00

So. I decided today is a day that I just need to whine. I am tired... and in pain.. and tired of being tired and in pain. I have had a really rough week + health wise.. Anyone that doesn't know.. *maybe someone I haven't met yet...* I have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. The best way I know to describe what that is, is that it is arthritis in the muscles. It is basically, pain, all the time all over my body.. some places worse than others, some days worse than others... and exhaustion. So tired.. to the point that my eyes hurt.. and my head hurts and my arms feel heavy. Sometimes, there is no staying awake. Doesn't matter how much I want to.. I can't. The flip side of that is, I also have insomnia. So, I will have a day that I can't stay awake.. and then that night, i will be awake all night.. and maybe for a couple nights after. Then, the less sleep I get, the more pain I am in. Right now, today, the last couple days actually... I have been having lots of bad pain. It is mainly in my arms and hands.. .and then hips.. so, moving, doing anythinig is not ok. So.. that means that my house is wreck. Which makes me a mental wreck.
So, this is my gripe today. I am now, behind on housework.. In pain.. and feeling lazy and I am at a total loss to do anything about it. I am trying to seek God through all of this. It is difficult this week.
I am all done griping now. Thanks for listening!!

Facebook

2009-05-24T20:13:00.002-05:00

So, I finally went ahead and signed in to facebook. I knew I would love it.. and I do.. :) Hubby had told me I could, I was just fighting it because I knew he wasn't really comfortable with me doing it.. He had said I could.. but.. anyway, I finally did! It is so great to connect with people I haven't talked to in such a long time!! I miss all my peeps so much!! I am super happy to be able to connect so much easier!! And, I love to show off pics of my babies.. and all that!! I will still be on here though! More later!

update

2009-05-20T21:32:00.002-05:00

So, I decided I should put a new post up... since it has been a couple weeks. Lets see, Jamie came out to get Kaylee. She left last Wed. Then on Saturday, Rick and LaRee and the kids came out. That was fun. Thats about it. We just don't have alot going on. Ethan is going on a canuing trip on Friday with our home school group. Hubby is going to go with him. That should be fun! The little boys and I are going to go to their last kickball day, and then we get to have an end of the year pizza party. The kids are looking forward to that. Anyway, that is all the news going on here. Hope all is well with everyone!

Trip to the beach

2009-05-12T18:26:00.003-05:00

For mothers day, we went to the BEACH!! YAY We left first thing Sunday morning for Port Aransas.. that is near corpus christy... It took about 4ish hours... We had a great time!! First of all... my family gave me a NEW CELL PHONE!!!!!!!!! wooo woooo!! It was the one I wanted and everything! The dare... it is coolness! It is Verizons version of an iphone! SWEET!!
Anyway, the beach... It was a BEAUTIFUL 2 days... Sunday, there were lots of people there.. but we stayed kinda late, so we got some time to ourselves. Then Monday, we had the place all to ourselves!! It was FANTASTIC!! Our friend Kelly took us.. it is her favorite place so that was great! We had an "in"! hehe We got to go on a farey... that was FUN. Anyway, I will put a couple pics on here, and then the rest are going to be on the feed on the side bar from picasa! Enjoy!!

One last pic... to feel sorry for my boy... This is Ez when we woke up this morning.. face so burned, it is swolen!! :S

Happy Birthday to Asher!!!

2009-05-04T20:41:00.005-05:00

Asher today opening his presents

This is about 3/4 of the kids here today

Asher the pirate getting his brother

Sweet Asher at 4

Ashers haircut at about 6

Saying his prayers-2

1 year picture

papa and baby share glasses

ni ni baby!-6 months

Happy baby! 9 months

sleepy guys--5 months

Brand new sweetie... 9 years ago today!

It is Ashers 9th birthday today!! We had a fun Pirate party. Lots of friends! We missed our family and friends from Abq.. but it was still fun!! I am going to put up some pics of "then" and then we will do pics from today! :)

Home again!

2009-05-03T15:48:00.002-05:00

We are back home from Dallas! God blessed us in a number of ways! Kaylee was able to meet her birth family! Some times were hard.. and some times were good.. I thank God for that family for giving her to me... *sorry I am selfish!!* We had a great time with Shaphan. She and I were able to have lots of good time just us.. I think we both needed that, I know I did!!! Tomorrow is Ashers Birthday! So, we are getting ready to party tomorrow night! I will have pics tuesday! There is a girl at our church that is getting into professional photogrophy and she said she would take pictures! YAY! More to come!!

Time in Dallas

2009-04-30T10:37:00.002-05:00

Hello from Dallas! We are here so Kaylee can meet her birth family.. There have been some bumps in the road, but over all, things have gone pretty well. Praise God!! Today she gets to meet her grandmother. She is really looking forward to that! While she is doing that, Shaphan and I get to hang out! YAY! and I didn't bring my boys. So, it is me and Shaphan and NO KIDS today and tomorrow! :) *don't know where Chris will be.. hehehe* The weather has been a mess all week for us in Austin and down here. That has been exciting.. Always fun to drive on a Dallas highway while a monsoon is going on! My wonderful, perfect, loving terrific husband is taking care of the boys. He was given permission to work from home while I am gone this week. So, he is home taking care of the kids. I have the truck, so the fam is stuck at home till I get back.. ha ha. ;) Hope this note finds all well!!

Pride in parenting

2009-04-25T16:27:00.004-05:00

Well, my little boys... decided to make me a movie. I LOVED it. I did have to make a couple of critiques, but that is what a home school mom must do right... I am going to post it on here for all to enjoy. It is about 5 and 1/2 minutes long I think.. A couple disclaimers... most of it is Ezekiel.. but with some of his brothers in there.. and a random kaylee picture! hahaha And... The pics at the begining were mislabled... it is Ez at 5 weeks. Enjoy!!! P.S. Don't miss the credits at the end.. *chuckle*

My garden

2009-04-21T15:51:00.004-05:00

A dear friend of mine from church gave me some plants to start a garden!! YAY So, my hubby helped me create a garden!! I have some before and After pictures! He also, put in a sprinkler system in the front yard! I have such a handy hubby!!!!

Ethan's fun evening

2009-04-17T21:38:00.006-05:00

I think all know that Kaylee, our cousin, came home with us from Abq... Well, tonight she asked Ethan for some help....

So, he started by removing the old nail polish....

Then he started carefully applying the new polish....

Made sure he got every nail evenly... *and a little finger too*

Here is the final product! Not too bad for his first time!! hehehehehehe Happy Friday night!!

Fair is fair!

2009-04-17T17:26:00.003-05:00

Well, I decided since I put pics of everyone else playing the new game.. I should put one of me too! So here is a pic of me and Gavin enjoying the new game!!!

The other thing I have to put a picture of, is the coolest invention EVER!!! This is a MUST HAVE *Sarah, are you taking notes?* This is a thermometer! You run it across the forehead then just touch it behind the ear.. takes 2 seconds and you get an accurate temp reading!! 30$ at Sams club!! It has made life sooo easy with us all sick this last week!!! Yay for technology!

New Toy

2009-04-14T13:12:00.002-05:00

We got our boys a new toy today.. They have all wanted it for a while. Now I will never get any of my boys off the x-box! hehehee We got guitar hero world tour.. that has all the instruments... and a mic. So all 4 can play at the same time! yay! Free time for mom!!!! Here are a couple pics. :)

Godly men and good dr's

2009-04-12T21:19:00.002-05:00

I have to praise God for putting the people in our lives that he has. I got strep the day after we got home.. :S and I was kind enough to share.. so now, Kaylee has it... We have her card now... but didn't. One of our elders at our church is a dr. and he is happy to see her... no worry about payment. Thankyou God for putting these people in our lives when we need them! Thank you too God for giving men and women the knowlege to care for us while we are here!!

Home now

2009-04-10T20:52:00.003-05:00

We are home now!!! Got my new couch in place, *thank you cousin!!!!* I have been doing laundry like all day all day.. and have minimum of 3 loads to go!!! sigh.... Asher was sick the whole drive home.. to his tummy. We got home, and hubby started getting sick to his tummy... So, I guess we got some kind of bug on the way home.
Tonight, most are better, laundry is getting done, and I am super excited because today I BOUGHT NEW PILLOWS!!!!! I love pillows!!! Have a great Saturday!!!

SURPRISE!

2009-04-08T07:43:00.002-05:00

Well, we got the joy this weekend of surprising all our friends and family with a quick trip to Abq. It was pretty terrific! His mom and dad didn't know... My dad didn't know... His grandparents... no one knew.. Except one lucky friend.. * Love you Lolo!!!* We had a good time seeing all the happy smiling surprised faces!! We leave today. Short and sweet I think is what this week would be called. As of last night though, we will come home with one extra person! We are bringing home hubby's cousin!! I am super excited. I have wanted to spend time with her for so long!!! She will spend a couple weeks with us... *hopefully longer* And then her mom will help her get home! yay for kaylee!!! Anyway, I am supposed to be checking email for the first time in a week while I sit here in the quiet and relatively dark room in the early morning hours! Yay for family! Yay for trips! Yay for going back home!!! We will be at my cousins tonight... but... home tomorrow!
Happy Wed.!

Award night

2009-04-02T21:36:00.002-05:00

Hubby got an award tonight! It was pretty cool. Lots of people were there and lots of people got awards but I am most proud of my honey! The manager that gave him his award is the boss of his bosses boss.... :) And he made a point of talking about the Certification hubby just got and talking about how he is one of a very small number *less than 10* in the whole company of Dell that have that certification! Made me proud! And thankful! To think that 10 years ago, we had no job so to speak of.. no idea where we were going.. making no money.. no idea how to pay the bills.. and raise the kids.. And God said, here I want to bless you over and above all that you could think or hope for!!! Thank you God!!! To God be all the glory!!!

Tuesday

2009-03-31T08:05:00.002-05:00

So, it is 8:05 AM on Tuesday. Asher is already 90% done with school. He decided to get up and get going early! Good boy! Wish all the kids had done that! It is like a day off... when they did school! Now mom just needs to get on the ball and get stuff from yesterday graded!! I find it amusing the way God created this Earth that he gave us to live on! I heard.. that it snowed in Abq over the weekend... at some point? maybe sunday... Here... it is in the high 70's to low 80's. Hubby was supposed to take the boys to the pool yesterday, but they never made it! It is funny to me how the temperatures can be so different just 1 state away! I am happy that I am on THIS side of that weather!! Snow can be nice sometimes..... but I am glad it isn't something that I deal with anymore!!! The one thing I am learning about Austin is that it is the allergy capitol of Texas, as well as the actual capitol! This is the first year of my life that I have struggled with alergies like this! To all those who struggle year after year... my sympothies are with you! All, have a terrific Tuesday! God bless! We love ya!

A week in review

2009-03-27T10:14:00.002-05:00

I took an impromptu "spring break" this week. I just couldn't think of doing school on Monday. I was just too wiped out. So, we didn't do it! Then... it went from Monday, to.. all week! The beauty of homeschooling. The kids have enjoyed having no school. I have slept in most days cause the little boys wanted to get up with Gavin. Partially because they enjoy being the big cousins.. and partially, because they wanted to give their old mom a break! Hubby has been in training this week, so he has been gone during the days. So, we have been just having peaceful, quiet days just me and the boys.
We have been working on trying to get some responsibility going in this house. Our little boys seem to think that they should just be around hanging out and hanging out and having fun and do just enough, when they are told, to get by. So, I changed things up a bit. Now, every day instead of them switching dishes days and trashes days... I unload the dishwasher in the morning. *unless it isn't full enough to run the night before* and then as we go through our day, everyone is responsible for rinsing their own dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. So there are never dishes left sitting, and no one has to spend upwards of 30 minutes doing the job. Then the rule with the trashes is, if you go to throw something away.. and the can is too full to fit anything, take the trash out! Don't worry about what day of the week it is.. JUST TAKE THE THING OUT!!! And then laundry, they will still have their days.. but it is going to be more of a Ez, your laundry is to the ceiling full.. you do laundry today even though it is Ethans day.. because he did his on monday.. and so he is fine!
The question of the day today is.... On weather channel.com for my zip code it says, 0% chance for precipitation today... IT IS POURING OUTSIDE!!! I think the good ole weather rock got it right. If it is swinging.. it is windy.. if it is wet, it is raining.. if it is still and hot.. it is sunny and still! hahahaha Have a great Friday!!!

Some thoughts

2009-03-24T08:06:00.003-05:00

I am sitting here... 8:00 AM on Tuesday morning. Hubby is gone to work. He is working days this week for training. The younger boys are playing chess. Gavin is trying to get in trouble... *which he is good at some days* Illness has hit us a couple weeks ago.. and it is lingering.. Asher has hardly a voice.. Ez's asthma has kicked up.. and he has been throwing up because of how much/hard he has been coughing. Hubby and I both have this just sitting in our chests.... My over all pain level has been high... So my over all moral has been low. I am trying to remember verses.. like, when you are weak, I am strong... My yolk is easy and My burden is light... The joy of the Lord is my strength.... all of those are paraphrased of course... I think we are going to take the week off school. It has been a while since we have had a break, and will be May before the next scheduled week off.. Please pray for us! If you have any verses of encouragement, we could use them!! Love to all!

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

2009-03-22T17:18:00.003-05:00

Today, we got to see something that we have been praying for, for a very long time. My brother in law has turned his life and heart over to God! God opened his eyes and showed him that he wasn't saved and wasn't living for Him! We are so excited at being able to watch the change in Shawns life over the last several months. Thank you to all that have been praying with us for him all these years! Enjoy the video!!!

Saturday chores

2009-03-21T14:04:00.004-05:00

I decided this morning that my boys needed to have something to do today! So, I made a list of chores. That should keep them out of trouble! In theory... :S I didn't get out my camera in time to get pics of Ethan doing his chores.. so I got a pic of him playing on his PC in Jedi's office. :) This is one of those.. homey Saturdays. I have made a pumpkin cheesecake.. pumpkin cookies, and peach no bake cheese cake. The house is clean... the kids are working.. hubby is up in his office working from home today, which I LOVE!! Praise God for Saturdays, and for a family to share them with!! By the way.. the extra kid helping Asher, is our next door neighbor boy, Jalen.

The heart of the matter

2009-03-19T09:39:00.002-05:00

I have been working on several things in my heart and in my home over the last couple weeks. The thing that keeps coming up... is the heart. Yes, it is the red pumpy thing in your chest that keeps your body going.. It is also, talked about a lot in the Bible. We think of our minds as where things come from... Our kids do something wrong, and we ask, what were you thinking?! We do something stupid.. and we say, I don't know where my mind was... But in scripture we find over and over that it is the heart that controls all that.. not the mind... Luke 6:45 says,"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
What is in our heart is what we think and do... then Jeremiah 17:9-10 says "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways. According to the result of his deeds." In learning things about me, I learn things I have done wrong with my kids. Why do I struggle within myself about having to tell them the same things over and over.. why do I continue to ask why?? I know why.. I deal with the situation right here and now.. like, putting out a fire in a burning building. I see the fire, lets say... disobedience, and I put it out. But I never go back into that building and find the source... so sooner or later, the fire is going to flair again. I am learning , through God's good, faithful, and patient training.. that I have to go into the building that is my childrens hearts... and find the source of that fire before I can expect it to stay out! Scripture also says that God knows the desire of my heart. My desire is to have 3 sons that love the Lord with all their heart, mind and soul and that beyond all else, they will want to live to serve Him. Right now, I have to help them learn that in their lives at this point, what that looks like is obedience to parents, kindness to brothers and friends, kind speach, thoughfulness toward others, honesty..... wait.. maybe that won't ever change?? I think obedience turns to honor as an adult.. we are to honor our parents.. but.. as a child, honor is obedience right? Anyway, pray for us as we buckle down and get into these boys hearts and help them learn to see the filth within that they have to put off and the new life that they should be putting on!! To God be the glory forever and ever!

TPI and other random Monday thoughts.

2009-03-16T18:54:00.003-05:00

Monday... What is it about monday?! It is harder to get up.. Harder to get through the day.. and harder to just deal in general... I mean, I could see if Saturday and Sunday were carefree, relaxed days that you are just doing your thing, and then Monday morning its back off to the drudgery of work.. But that rule doesn't apply in my house.. I have to deal with the kids everyday, hubby doesn't work till Wed. afternoon.. We do have to get back to school after 2 days off... Who knows.. maybe that is all it takes, is that one thing.. Who knows.. Anyway, enough whining.. I have a couple things to talk about today.
First off...I am doing a couple Bible studies right now. I have to start off by saying praise God because it is getting me in the word on a daily basis. I need that SOOO BAD! I am really good at making excuses for why I don't, but I know it is better when I am..I am better.. a better mom, wife, friend, person! So that has been great. There have been chalenges, but that is how we grow, right? Then, The other thing is, I have been getting more trigger point injections.. For anyone that I haven't talked to about that *which might be most people* what that is, is just what it sounds like. The doc pushes and prods around on my body to find the most painful spot, that also radiates pain to other places... then he takes a needle and injects that spot with litocane and saline... Hubby says it looks a little like basting a turkey.. poke it in.. pull out some.. move it around.. push it in and inject more.. Well, he has done this for me a few times, and I think it is really helping.. so I have had alot of pain in one specific place the last several days.. so I called this morning and asked him to do one for me.. So I went and got that done this afternoon... OWIE!! I mean.. it really hurts to get the shot... because they inject it into THE MOST PAINFUL SPOT THEY CAN FIND! Then, I have MORE pain right after becasue of the muscle pain from the shot.. and over the next couple days I will have more pain ... then, it should be better and the pain in that area won't come back... for a while anyway. Fibromyalgia is a hard, painful, frustrating, depressing.. thing to have.. Praise God for the wisdom he has given to dr's to figure some things out to try to help!!!
Sorry for the rambling!! Have a happy Tuesday!!

Happy Friday!

2009-03-13T10:50:00.001-05:00

Hi all! We are working on finishing up our school day… well, some are working on finishing.. some are in the midst.. and some, are just beginning.. It is one of those days. Today we have a lot of fun planed! We go for our second session of gymnastics. Gavin has been asking to go since he got here! The biggest and best thing of the day, is that hubby took today off work!!! He took the day off originally because he and I were going to take Ethan and his friend to the movie “Race to witch mountain” But then Ethan’s friends parents said they want to preview that movie first, which I understand all too well!! So, he can’t go tonight. So, we decided to do a special day just us and Ethan. We are going to take him to dinner and then to the movie. Erin is going to stay with the younger boys. I am excited. I don’t know how excited Ethan is.. I know he wants to go to the movie, but…. he is afraid that we are going to start “lecturing” him.. He may be right… That is yet to be seen! :) I am downloading a bunch of pics and video’s from Ez’s camera… so I am going to post a pic or movie so you can see life from his point of view! He is a pretty good photographer. He really enjoys it!!! Hope you enjoy it too!!

This is a self-portrait of Ez… Holding a chopstick with an eraser on the end… just because he is Ez.

This is Ethan with his new haircut. He was having fun playing with it!!

Trying another new thing

2009-03-11T14:34:00.001-05:00

Having the techie hubby that I have, he is trying to help me figure out newer and better ways to do this so I can get it just like I want it! :) I don’t know how different this is going to be.. but, I am going to try to put pictures in throughout this post and see if I can make it work! So, lets start with Ethan…

Awww!! Look at my baby!!!! Ok…. now we will do a more recent one.. This was when he was 4.

Ok, so I will do this one backwards… There is a recent one of Asher… And Ethan :) Now I will do the older one of Asher! I am going to do pics of all of the boys.. at 4… just because I don’t like that age… so it is a good age to look back on and be out of!!!

Look at those eyes!!!! Ok, now for Ez!

Now, one of him now! This is fun! hahaha hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoy doing! :)

Nothing like a chocolate milk mustache self portrait!!

Have a good day!

A new week

2009-03-10T20:50:00.002-05:00

Here we are in a new week. Yesterday we were thrown off a bit because we went to San Marcos to help my sister and to get my new hutch and table and chairs. I am really excited! I have been anxious to get my pretty dishes out of the box, and now... 2 years after our move... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! :) ok... Raise your hand if you can believe it has been 2 years?! Ya... me either. March 26, 2007 we pulled out of the church parking lot and into our new life!
Anyway, sorry, that was a little off subject... So, we didn't do school on Friday, then we only did school for a little bit yesterday, so this week is going to be playing catch-up. Such fun! Started off rocky.. Ez took 4 hours to do his Geography... :-S frustrated me just a little... *sigh* So, hopefully, by the end of Friday, we will be all caught up!
Tomorrow we are going to start a new thing. There is a family at our church who have become good friends of ours... Tami, the mom... :) has her grandmother living with them. She has Alzheimer's and is getting worse little by little.. she is almost 90 years old. So, between homeschooling 3 daughters, having her hubby working from home, and taking care of her grandmother, Tami doesn't get such a thing as time for herself. So, the boys and I are going to start going over there on Wednesday to have lunch with Gramma Char. *short for charlette* I am going to cook lunch here, and serve up some for hubby, then take the rest with us to eat. Then we will get to spend a couple hours with her. She is a very interresting lady. She worked for..... darn.. I can't remember right now, but I will get the whole story again tomorrow.. anyway, it was missions work.. and she has been all over the world. Africa was her fave so she talks alot about that! I will let you know how that goes! I am going to post a picture of me and her.... ummm and I look scary because I was telling the camera to WORK!!! Later!

Sickish

2009-03-08T18:40:00.002-05:00

Hubby and I and both our little boys.. have colds... The little boys are coughing and all stuffy... hubby just has a cough... and me.. well, I have... a stuffed up head... stuffed up chest... no voice.. sore throat... I mean.. you name it.. I have it.. stomach... everything is a mess... sigh. I am happy that we were all fairly ok till yesterday... I was sick early in the week.. then felt better... then got sick again. Guess God wants me down a few more days.... We are going to San Marcos tomorrow though... Heather and Shawn got some furniture from his grandma and aunt.. and some of it was stuff I need... So they are giving it to us! We just have to go get it! Yay for family sharing! So, hopefully I will feel better tomorrow! More later!

Try something new

2009-03-06T20:00:00.004-06:00

Ok, I want to try something new.. This thing looks like it makes it easy to put up a video, so I am going to give it a shot. I am going to post a video of the boys paper rockets that they built, getting shot off! :) by the way, the ignition was water and a small piece of alka seltzer shaken up in a film case!

NASA day

2009-03-06T16:53:00.004-06:00

Gavin is a monkey
Ethan upsidedown
Asher on the paralel's
Ez tuck and jump!
The boys at NASA day
Getting ready to launch!
Building a rocket
Ez the spaceman!
Cooling for a spaceman

We have had a FUN day today!! Started out going to NASA day at the LBJ library! NASA came up from Huston with a bunch of fun experiments, and a couple rocket models, and space suits.. Lots of cool stuff! The kids got to build and launch paper rockets; they got to see and assist in a demonstration on gravity... *no.. Jedi didn't push anyone off a building!* They got to see what happens when you go into someplace with no air.. *using a "marshmallow man* They got to help discover a new planet.. I got alot of cool pictures! I posted on picasa, if you want to see all of them. I will just put a couple up here.
We also started gymnastics today with our homeschool group. The kids LOVED it!! Even Gavin got to participate. I didn't know they would have a little gym.. so that was a fun treat! I had to stay with Gavin so I enlisted my friend Ruthie to take pics of my big kids for me. So the good ones of them are taken by her! THANK YOU RUTHIE!!!! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pictures, again.. I think the pics might come before the words.. don't have this all figured out yet... love to all!!! Link to picasa------ http://picasaweb.google.com/TaniaHammond

Big day

2009-03-02T20:30:00.002-06:00

Today was a really big day.. We got up and did school, I did lunch.... then the running started. Ethan had his cardiologist appointment today. It went well, they didn't find anything.. which I expected.. They sent him home with a 24 hour halter monitor. That will record his heart rates for the next 24 hours straight. He is supposed to keep a written log of everything he does and when he does it so that if there is a spike in heart rate, they have an explanation for it, or they know they should be concerned. The appointment took a little over 2 hours... I had made Ezekiel a dr. appointment to have his foot looked at. A week ago when we went to our friends house, Ez dumped the dirt bike. He was still complaining about his foot last night. So, we decided to have it looked at.. Well after being at the cardiologist so long, we missed Ez's appointment. So, I took him to the chiro instead. He checked it out and decided it probably is a fracture.. in his heel. He said to get an aircast... so, I was running looking for that for a while.. didn't find it... then had to run home and get ethan to take him to youth group... then had to take Ezekiel to do a house sitting job he is doing.. then ran and got dinner.. and got home in time for hubby to turn around and go get ethan... so now I am sitting here regrouping and trying to find an aircast on the internet! *sigh* Have a good tuesday!

Super Sunday

2009-03-01T19:34:00.002-06:00

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I love it! We get to go fellowship with our Church Family, and then we get to home and rest and just be... We don't have anything we have to do... No where to rush off to. We get home about 2 or 2:30, and just relax. Sometimes we get a nap, sometimes I get to read.. Today, Jedi helped Ethan put up a pull up bar in his room. I think he needs something to do with all the extra testosterone! :) I started a new book, the little boys just played. All has been well. Tomorrow, we are back to the grind. I am still struggling with my attitude. I am having a hard time having a good attitude with being where God has me. I am selfish, and just want to do what I want... Not good. So, I have some new rules in place for the boys... and I have some new rules in place for me. I take Ethan to the cardiologist tomorrow. Pray for good results! Thanks! I will check in tomorrow!

Basketball

2009-02-27T17:08:00.006-06:00

Today was our last day of basketball with our homeschool pe. Next will be gymnastics so watch for more cool pics to come!!! I thought I would share some pics from our last day! Enjoy! Ok... so I can't figure out how to get pictures to go where I want them... so, I guess you will just have to find the words.. wherever they end up! :S sigh....

A new day

2009-02-26T07:34:00.003-06:00

Well, yesterday was rough. I have gotten up today determined that this is going to be a better day. For that to happen, my attitude has to be better first. My kids will follow my lead.
Luke 6:45 "The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." I guess when I have days where I am freaking out, and don't have the patience to parent, I am showing what is in my heart. I have started going to a new study at our church on Saturday mornings. We are studying the book attitudes of a transformed heart. Ephesians 4:22 "That in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23: and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24: and put on the new self which in the likeness of God, has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."
I need to remember that I am daily supposed to be putting off the old man... that isn't me.. or shouldn't be anymore. When I struggle with anger, and frustration and selfishness and pride.. and all of those other things, I need to get on my knees! I need to constantly be giving my life to God and daily turning to Him to help me through the hard days. Thank God that He will and has forgiven me for days like this! Lord, help me to have fewer and fewer!
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Is it legal to sell my kids?

2009-02-25T11:37:00.001-06:00

So, I don't know if it is possible to love your kids.. and be thankful for them.. and just not like them very much... I am having a major struggle with my kids right now. I feel like I am failing with them. The discipline thing seems to be down the tubes. They do what they want when they want with no thought for anyone other than themselves. I know that is just the human condition. We are all selfish. We try to say we aren't... but, really.. all anger is based in selfishness.. and the rules we set are based on what is easiest and best for us.. When we don't follow through on discipline, it is because that isn't what we wanted to do right then...Even the fact that I am upset.. is selfishness, because I want them to do what I want, when I want, how I want, without complaint or hesitation and without being told. Not that I expect them to be mind readers or anything... I have told them what I expect.. over and over and over and over.. year after year after year after year... with every kind of discipline you can imagine. I have it posted.. on the refrigerator, what I want them to do and exactly what time during the day... Nothing is left for interpretation.. And it still isn't done. I feel like a failure as a mom, as a help-meet for my hubby, as a person. As a last ditch effort to let them know that I am serious, I took their computers from them.. well, sorta. They are all downstairs now. They can still use them.. and they still all have their own.. but they aren't in their rooms and just convenient for them. They have lost that privilege. I think it is time for my kids to learn just how spoiled they are and that the things in their lives are a treat.. not something I have to give them.
Please pray for me. Well, for all of us. I have to be strictly consistent with this. If I back down at all, I have lost and might as well just stay in my room and let them do what they want, because that is what will be going on anyway. Pray for God to give me wisdom and strength. Pray for my kids. They need to get it. They need to understand why we have rules, and why they have to follow them. They need to learn that a real relationship with Christ means dying to self... I need to learn that one too. Pray for hubby. He has to work to support us.. and then he has to come home and hear it from all sides. He is such an incredible person. He is a wonderful father, a super hubby. He works really hard to take care of us and I am really bad at thanking him and letting him know how much I appreciate it. I do though. And I am really proud of him!!!! And I praise God for all the knowledge and skill that he has blessed my husband with so he can do the things he does.
Sorry for my rant... Thanks for your prayer!

Ezekiel's Bible Study

2009-02-23T23:14:00.002-06:00

Ezekiel decided to start a children's Bible study at our church. There were a couple of things papa had to talk to him about.. like at the end where he talks about "our" truth... :) Enjoy!

Children’s study lesson 1:the importance of truth

Well um good morning everybody this is our first week Micah Elijah and I have made studies in the past

But this is the best yet ok today’s lesson is the importance of truth

But first um ill take prayers take prayers

Ok so now will you turn to gen 24:38 And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son. So Abraham led him in the truth because he is in the truth. Now turn to ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part you will make me to know wisdom. So that means to me is that you desire truth in your heart. Ps 91:4 says He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. That is my fav verse and to me it means that he is our refuge and truth is our protector. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is truth. So that means that our law should be truth.

So now that we are done please go home and ponder what we learned and you have a memory verse ps 91:4

Now lets pray

New address

2009-02-23T10:39:00.004-06:00

I have had several of my nearest and dearest saying that they have issues with trying to read/post on my current blog. So, I am trying something new! I am still trying to figure it all out so, bear with me please! :) More later!