Thankful Post #28

I am thankful for a quiet, uneventful evening.

The kids and I went to church and while the girls were all in their respective classes, Jordan and I hung out in a room by ourselves.  His cough was still lingering and I didn't want to comprise his immune system or expose him to others.

While he hung out with me, he was a great at helping me get ready for my craft for preschool class on Sunday.  He cut out lots and lots of tissue paper squares so the boys and girls can make wreaths.

While we were working, we could hear Hallie Jo next door in her class.  She was getting frustrated with a classmate and we could hear her raising her voice.  Each time Hallie Jo hollered, I noticed Jordan would tense up.  He was ready to go next door and tear the other kid apart for upsetting his sister.  I thought I might have to hold him back.  I just love that "protect my sister" attitude.  He makes me proud!

Thankful Post #24

I am thankful for an additional day of Thanksgiving celebration.

My parents came to our house today to celebrate with us.  When you only have two others joining you that know you well, I do not feel as if I have to rush to get everything done at an exact time.  We ate a late but VERY yummy lunch.

After lunch, we all gathered together to watch Bedlam, OU vs. OSU.  Our Pokes did not win but what a game it was!  It was back and forth, exciting and exactly what a bedlam is all about.

Ride 'em Cowboys!  Go Pokes!

 

Thankful Post #22

Today we were able to spend good quality time with extended family.  We enjoyed dinner with Jimmy's sister and brother-in-law and their family.  This included their two kids, their spouses and three kids each.  There was also Jimmy's aunt as well as Jimmy's brother and his girlfriend.  

We had a packed house and beautiful weather.  The kids were able to spend a good amount of time playing outside.  I loved being able to sit down and just fellowship as well as watching the kids all have a good time.  We made good memories today!

Thankful Post #20

Earlier this month, Jimmy approached me and said that he felt God leading to expand his business.  He has been self-employed and working on his own since 2004.  Some months have been lean to say the least but we never have gone hungry or have we been homeless.

Before the election, he did some job searching and one opportunity which we all thought was going to pan out wasn't in God's plan for our family.  Jimmy tried a few other places and recruiters but God shut the door on each one of them.

Jimmy really feels God leading to move his business to a prominent location where it should bring in more business.  Of course this means a monthly rent.  I couldn't say no since Jimmy is the leader of our family but it sure added worry to my mind.

God has blessed us this month with extra business in which we could pay the deposit and first month's rent.  God also allowed us to have a great business landlord who is willing to take our rent on a month-to-month basis and his current location is still available if we need to move back.

I am thankful for a God-fearing husband that takes the time to pray and listen to God in how to lead and provide for his family.

Thankful Post #17

I am so thankful for our church and our small group.  First Baptist Church of Owasso has been more than a blessing for our family.  It has been our lifeline.

When our family decided to move here over 10 years ago, Jimmy and I knew we wanted a church that had both an Awana and FAITH program.  I started the "search" online first and I thought it was an easy solution since FBCO was the only area church with both programs.  Jimmy instantly said, "No, that church is too big."  He was comparing the size of the church he grew up to FBCO.  I quickly retorted, "Well, then we have to find a church with Awana and you can start a FAITH program."

After we got moved, we started visiting local churches and FBCO was included in these visits to give it a chance.  They were currently meeting at the local high school auditorium for worship while all the small group classes and children were at the church location.  They were in the process of building a new, bigger building.  It didn't take us too many visits to figure out that this was THE church God wanted us to be a part of.  We joined in November 2002 on the first day FBCO worship in their new and current location.  

We quickly got involved over the next few months with Jimmy participating in FAITH and eventually becoming the Sunday School director while I helped in AWANA and VBS and eventually became the director of both.  All this while adding two more kiddos to the mix.

We still continue to serve as youth and preschool teachers while enjoying our time with our adult small group.  The adults in our class are from all different backgrounds but we can come together to worship the one and only.  We have stood by each other when times are tight, resources low and just when we need to share a good laugh.  It is nice to have a group that you can be comfortable enough with to share.

Thankful Post #11

Today is Jimmy's 40th birthday!  I have now known him for over half of his life.  With our crazy schedule this weekend, we were not able to have a party but I did make him a shirt that he wore to church so he got lots of blessings in person.  He even quoted Mike Gundy by saying, "I'm 40!  I am a man!"  I have been teasing Jimmy that he is old until my birthday in March when I turn 40.  Then he can NOT be old anymore because I refuse to be old.

I could not be more thankful than I am for this man, my knight in shining armor, my best friend, my sweetie, my confidant, my everything.  Life would be almost impossible without him by my side.

We have had rough patches in our relationship, in our finances, in raising our kids and even in extended family issues but through it all Jimmy has kept our focus on God and we have grown closer to together.

 

Thankful Post #10

I am so thankful for our youth group at church.  Hannah lives for the days that she can be at church and hanging out learning and growing closer to God right along with her best friends.

I love that our youth leaders strive to help make our young adults better people.  They offer many opportunities for them to serve and today was one such day.

Hannah joined other high school students and painted a house for a needy family.  We call this the Restore Ministry and it allows those students who chose to, to become the hands and feet of Jesus for a local family.

Our youth director, Keith took this picture of Hannah.  I just love her and her servant heart!  It makes this mom so very proud!

 

Thankful Post #9

I am so thankful for my parents.  They have been a lifetime of support and encouragement.  They have watched me succeed and suffer but they are always there with a helping hand.

They provided me a rich life full of love and honesty which I pray I am instilling in my children now.  They continue to show me what it means to stay married, how to raise children and how to be a part of my community.

 They have been my #1 fans from the beginning.

Thankful Post #8

Today I am thankful for my children.

Hannah who is such a joy to watch grow inwardly and outwardly into a young adult who loves her Lord, books, Dr Who, Harry Potter, texting and social media.  We have seen a missing joy in her lately after she aquired her own bow and arrows.  She continues to be a wonderful big sister to her siblings even though they can continually drive her nuts.

Jordan is our walking military history machine.  If he is talking, which is almost always, he is talking about a battle, ammo, guns, tanks, airplanes, Pearl Harbor, etc.  He is found frequently securing the perimeter around the house to keep us all safe.  He has also found a joy in shooting squirrels with his bb gun.

Harlee is our outgoing, social butterfly.  She always seems to a group of friends hanging out with her.  She is also our on-stage diva with her first appearance in a play.  She is looking forward to more plays and more time with her pageant mentor, Brookelyn.

Hallie Jo is the funniest little blonde I know.  She is wise beyond her years and she uses that to keep her siblings in line.  When she isn't busy being the "parent," she is hanging onto/laying on her big sister.

I pray that each of them continue to draw closer to God and strengthen their relationship with Him.

Thankful Post #7

I am thankful for all the men and women who have or are currently serving in any branch of the military.  Without our military, we would not be able to live in a country that gives us so many free choices.  

The military is such a different way of life than most have have experienced. I was born in another country due to my dad being in the Air Force then we moved back to the states when I was a year old.  When I was three, my mom and I lived with her parents while my dad was in Alaska for a year.  

My earliest memory was living in an apartment in the same town that my parents still live in.  I can remember visiting the commissary and the PX to shop.  I can remember having to take home "special forms" from school that my parents had to fill out so the district could collect information and make reports.  I can remember dad's green uniforms and his dress blues.  

The biggest memory I have is my dad going on TDY.  I always hated when he was gone, especially at bedtime.  I would slip out of my bed after my mom tucked me in and watch her outside in the backyard making sure all was right and that the dogs were fed, watered and good for the night.  After all those years, only one TDY kept my dad away during my birthday.

Looking back at what I thought was a miserable part of growing up, I now understand the sacrifices my parents made to follow where they felt God wanted them to be.  I also have a lot of sympathy for those family members who are at home and in the "trenches" of everyday life while their love is away serving wherever they are told to go.

Thank you to past, current and future military personnel.

Family Challenge for November

I wanted to try an experiment this month with my family.  I proposed that we not eat out at all the entire month of November.  This brought some moans and groans and my first thought was, "Hey, wait a minute!  I am the one who plans, shops and cooks all of our meals so why the heck are you complaining?"

I will admit I like to eat out and being the one who is served more than I care to admit.  My weakness is usually lunch after church on Sunday and those days the kids and I get finished with a coop activity.  It is pretty easy to just stop somewhere before we come home.

Yesterday was pretty easy but today was much more difficult.  Jimmy took three of the kids with him to work out of town so they were excused from the experiment today.  I only had Hannah with me and it would have been the perfect situation to have a mom/daughter date for lunch.  Then after I dropped off Hannah at a church activity and was alone, I could have easily stopped somewhere on the way back home.

I am so glad that the day is almost over and I made it!   

2011 Christmas Memories - Day 17

Lots of driving was involved today.  My kids are almost always good on a long drive.  Maybe it has something to do with lots of practice when Hannah used to be a competitive gymnast and we traveled a lot to meets.

We got out the door almost on time to drive over three hours to my mom's family Christmas reunion.  I only get to see most of them once a year but I hope to change that in 2012.  It is so much more fun to hang out with family more often.  This year we added a Dirty Santa gift exchange which in my opinion added so much more to our time together.

We found Gundy hanging onto the rear view mirror and he rode there the whole way.

 

Since the kids are going to my parents until Wednesday, they decided that Gundy could have a few days off and go relax so he came home with me.  My dad has the kids convinced that there are hidden cameras in the ceiling vents that are connected to Santa at the North Pole.

I also sent today's books with the kids to read tonight before bed.  They ended up getting to stay in a hotel with grandma and grandpa the first night.  They went and looked at a huge, local light display and then swam in the hotel pool.

The rest of the time will be filled with tree decorating and cooking making.  This is Hallie Jo's first year to get to do it and she has been talking about it since the other three got back last year.  My dad traces their hands in the cookie dough so Hallie Jo was anxious to make her hand cookies.

While they are gone, Jimmy and I are getting so great alone time.  During the day while he is working, I will be doing a major cleaning on the house.  I know it doesn't sound relaxing but my mom is coming Wednesday so it needs to be done and it is the best time to declutter toys the kids never touch and they think they need to keep forever.

I will be taking a break from this blog until Wednesday.

Even though I am not blogging for a few days, please do not forget to check out what Charley is doing at The 4-Crow's.

2011 Christmas Memories - Day 2

We woke and found Gundy the Elf had landed on the dining room ceiling fan. Join me over at The 4-Crow's and let us know what your elf is up to.



Then we were off to our homeschool coop's annual Christmas Party.

During the afternoon we read two books about Christmas.



We finished off the day at Christview Christian Church's "Bethlehem Walk."

2011 Christmas Memories - Day 1

Last year, out of necessity, we started a new tradition in our family. I took our huge collection of Christmas books, divided them up to match the number of days until Christmas and then wrapped each stack of books. After wrapping them, I labeled with a corresponding number and activity for that day.


The kids really enjoyed that so we repeated it again this year. I had to make a few stacks bigger because the kids will be gone to my parents for a few days to enjoy making memories at grandma and grandpa's house.

Tonight was Package #1 and we read Peef, The Christmas Bear. After reading, I brought Peef out of hiding and Hallie Jo quickly took him in to love for the next month.




Our Christmas activity for the day was putting up the tree and putting on the ornaments. Harlee and Jordan helped me fluff all the branches. Then each of the kids got to put on their special new ornament of the year. Hannah picked a bowler, Jordan picked an army tank, Harlee picked a girl with a Nutcracker and Hallie Jo picked a girly ornament. They also worked together to finish putting up all of our other special ornaments on the tree.








A new tradition was started this year with the help of my aunt and uncle and Santa. We got one of Santa's elves in the mail today. It came with a storybook that told us that we had to place our elf on the shelf and pick a name. Once we picked a name, the elf would receive his magic. I suggested an OSU-themed name and now his name is Gundy.




Gundy is currently sitting on the t.v. cabinet watching and waiting. The story told the kids that Gundy will use his magic to fly back to Santa while they are sleeping and report to him whether they have been good or not so good. Then, he will be in a different place in the morning and the kids have to find him. Hallie Jo is already telling us where she thinks we will find Gundy. Thank goodness I have places like Pinterest to help me with ideas to make the elf experience fun for the kids.

If your family is having fun with the Elf on the Shelf, then join me over at The 4-Crow's link up each day and post your elf's adventures.

Easter Weekend

Easter was a little different this year. I usually host a dinner and egg hunt at our house on Saturday so no one has to rush around on Sunday after church. That also leaves Sunday to focus on the real reason for Easter, our Lord and Savior. We still made our Resurrection Rolls and dyed our eggs.

This year instead of hosting, I decided we needed to join our "adopted family" in the town where I grew up. We became great friends with this family when I was young and one year for Christmas, they gave us "adoption papers". Mom and dad knew we were coming but I asked them to keep it a surprise. I loved the looks on their faces when we drove up. It was great catching up with them all. I feel like I can really be myself when I am around them.

We had planned on a huge egg hunt for all the kids but the constant downpours literally put a damper on our plans. We were all gathered inside a metal building that is affectionately called the "party barn." The barn has a batting cage and kitchenette. We decided to throw the eggs into the batting cage, let age three and under out for the first one to two minutes then the rest of the kids joined them for a great egg gathering. The kids got eggs filled with candy, small toys and coins. The adults got great memories with kids.

New Playground

Back in the fall I saw an advertisement from someone in our homeschooling community. They wanted to sell their play structure. I have been keeping my eye out for a good deal. My dad can buy all the parts and build it himself but I was trying to save money and work. This ad was perfect, my parents liked it and so off my men went to get it and haul it home.

The playground has a ladder and a climbing wall to get up to the fort with a portico on one side. It also has three swings. My dad got a slide, a rope ladder and a glider swing from his neighbor for free so we have installed the slide and will add more extensions later to accommodate. I also want to make the area under the fort a sandbox. My kids have not had the opportunity to experience a lot of playing in sand because all the local parks have a foam type covering under their playgrounds.

Originally the playground started out on the east side of the house but after getting the septic aeration system fixed, we found the sprinkler sprayed on the playground so we moved it to the northeast side of the house. It does not get as much shade but it is drier more often in the new location.

Legs was at church or babysitting one evening and the other three took advantage of the beautiful weather to play and I was able to catch some of their fun.

My Men and Their Toys

Jimmy and Jordan got tickets to the Texas Motor Speedway for Christmas. They have been anxiously waiting for April to get here so they could go watch their favorite drivers, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. My dad and cousin went as well. Except for some very windy conditions, they had a great time and are starting to plan a trip to Kansas City next.

Pioneer Woman as a Birthday Gift

My birthday was on March 27th. The day before my parents came up to watch Legs bowl in her league and watch Lil Man play in his baseball tournament. Later that evening we got to go out to eat for my birthday. We met up with my JB's dad, his new lady friend and my aunt and uncle who live close.

I chose Red Lobster. I love seafood but only get the opportunity to eat here about once a year. It is a huge budget buster for us so we save it for something really special. I got some great cards and gifts for my birthday and I loved just having us all together but the best gift of all was Pioneer Woman's new book, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

But that is not the best part, my parents stood in line for four hours to meet Ree and got her autograph for me with a special birthday wish. I am so excited! Now I can join the RHOK in their weekly book club.

Binky Fairy Visit

I allowed Chubbles to keep her binky (pacificer) longer than the other kids, about a year longer. The time had come for her to take the next step after getting a big girl bed, we had to stop using the binky altogether.

She let us take a picture of her on the last night to use the binky.

We made a big deal about the Binky Fairy coming to take all the binkies and taking them to new babies. She asked for a binky once or twice the first couple of days but after that she has not asked for one again. As a reward, the Binky Fairy surprised her and left her money to go eat at Cherry Berry, her favorite place to go.

13? Already?

13? What do you think when you hear this number? Thirteen is a big number in our house this year because Legs is now officially 13. We have a teen in our house! What an adventure God has for us to experience.

I am in denial that Legs is this old and it does not help that she is practically as tall as I am. I still remember holding her for the first time, watching her sleep in the cradle, all the late night cuddles and feedings, watching her bond with her daddy, the first bath, the first step, and eventually becoming a great big sister.

The kids get to choose where to eat on their birthdays unless they are having a party on the same day. This year Legs did not want to miss church on Wednesday night so she chose to eat lunch at Olive Garden. That was not a big surprise, she loves Fettuccine Alfredo. She also got to open presents from us while there. She was surprised and elated that we gave her a "promise" ring and wears it proudly.