Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mommy's birthday. 

She is and always has been an amazing mom.  

Mom, I'm grateful for you and to you.

Hope you have a WONDERFUL day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

Retreat: Spa for the Soul

Before too much time passes, and since I'm waiting for the shower to get ready for church, I thought I'd take a moment to post about the weekend.  

I went on our annual women's retreat which was called "Spa for the Soul."  Rhea Briscoe was our speaker (daughter of Jill Briscoe).  She came a couple of years ago and shared with us and we were so excited to have her back.  She is a gifted self-proclaimed "preacher" and we just love Miss Rhea.

We stayed in a beautiful resort on a lake, but I didn't venture outside since it rained and stormed most of yesterday.  What I did get to do was re-connect with friends and enjoy the retreat...for the first time in several years.  You see, I am normally the one who is leading worship all weekend.  But this year I exercised a very important muscle that often remains, well, un-exercised.  I said NO.

This proved to be a great decision.  I was able to truly enjoy the weekend and not be bound to a schedule.  I can't tell you how freeing that was.  Everyone kept asking me if I missed leading worship, but I really didn't.  Don't get me wrong, I love to worship the Lord, but I was able to do so while having fun relaxing with the rest of the ladies!  We had a wonderful worship leader and I appreciated her heart for the Lord so much.  

And I'm sorry to say that I have no pictures.  I brought my camera but didn't take a single photo.  This is probably because most of us cried off our make-up every time Rhea spoke.  

The only photo I wish I did have was all of us in our jammies Friday night.  One of my friends wore a lavender sleeper (with feet!).  One of my other friends wore sock monkey pajamas AND slippers. The ladies were all too cute for words.  I'm sure those photos will turn up in church sometime in the near future.  

YIKES.

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.

Hello, How Are You, What's New?

I know I've been MIA.  Part of it can be blamed for computer troubles, but mostly it's just a matter of priorities.  Something I'm always working hard to keep in check.  Here's the latest in the life of our family.

• We went to Nebraska last weekend.  I should say that the boys and I went.  Jerry had to stay behind, but I wasn't really alone.  Most of our family was there too, so I definitely didn't feel like a "single" mom.  I will say that I have a new found respect for moms who go it alone every day.  And for my husband who does so much to help!  We had so much fun going to the spring Husker game and exposing the kids to the wonder that is Nebraska football.  We all had so much fun!
• My computer's hard drive had to be completely wiped out and I had to start all over.  Thus the reason for no pictures today.  I am still re-loading everything back onto the computer.  
• It's supposed to be 85 degrees today.  Just three days ago it was snowing.  I have no idea what season it is.
• I'm going to our church's women's retreat this weekend and am greatly looking forward to some R&R.  This is the first year in several that I haven't been leading worship, and I must say that the decision to sit this one out has been a good one.  I really get to relax this year!
• We purchased 5 painted lady caterpillars from a wonderful company called Insect Lore several weeks ago, and all 5 survived and are currently in their chrysalides.  We can't WAIT for them to hatch.  More on that soon...

You're sorta caught up.  I promise I'll post some pictures soon for all three of you who actually read this here blog.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Just Because it Describes Him Today

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

This is a day late (so sorry, Grandma!!!), but a special birthday wish goes out to Jerry's mom, Brenda.  We love you, Grandma!  

Hope it was a wonderful day and weekend!

Easter Recap '09

We had a wonderful Easter.  The weekend started on Friday morning, when we held our second annual Easter decorating party with the kids in the neighborhood.  This year we had eight children and we had a blast.  Here's Caden with his eggs.  He was so careful to dip them and I was brave and took a hands-off approach with him.  We didn't have ONE broken egg!  Look how well he did!

As you can see from the picture below, Cody had a great time with his friends.  They had more fun splashing around (they're such boys!!) than actually decorating them.  
Here's a group picture.  You can see the table is very full.  We put the two littlest ones at a different spot all their own.  I think they were glad to have their own space!
After we decorated eggs, we read "The Legend of the Easter Egg" and went through the Resurrection Eggs together.  The kids who came last year were asking to do this again, which I thought was great.  After that, it was time to head to church for our Good Friday rehearsals and services.  They went beautifully.  We had a cross made especially for the weekend (pictured below).  When everyone arrived Friday evening, they were each given a small piece of paper and a nail.  They were invited during the service to write something they were going to bring to the cross...a sin, a burden, anything.  In the middle of the service, they all came forward and two men in Roman soldier uniforms nailed each slip of paper to the cross.  It was a very powerful moment in the service. We took communion, sang, and had a really special time of worship.  Our pastor ended the service by pointing to the cross (now full of paper and nails) and said, "The cross looks pretty full doesn't it?  But the good news is, there's always room for more."  
The next two days brought three more services of which we were blessed to be a part.  Cody sang with the kids and Jerry and I led the worship choir.  We had such a great time singing and praising God together.  It was a wonderful, joyous celebration.
When we got home, we all CRASHED and took naps.  And then we had an Easter egg hunt in our yard.  Each egg was filled with a little something for the boys to enjoy.  After that, we cooked out on the grill and enjoyed a quiet evening.  

I hope you all had a blessed Resurrection weekend.  He is risen, indeed!!!

Happy Easter

She said it best.

Good Friday

He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our sins,

The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.

And by His wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each one of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on Him

the iniquity of us all.  ~Isaiah 53:5-6

What can wash away our sins?

NOTHING but the blood of Jesus...

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.....~Hebrews 3:15

Cookies!!!

We don't have many photos of Caden's cookies because as soon as he decorated one, it was gone! Mmmmm....sugar!
These are Cody's creative masterpieces....
My contribution....
Cody working hard and concentrating...

Happy Easter week, everyone!

My Mommy: By Cody, Age 7

1.  What is something mom always says to you?

"We have to do school."

2.  What makes mom happy?

"Giving you breakfast on mother's day"

3.  What makes mom sad?

"When Dave died."  (That is Charity's brother who lost his battle with lung cancer)

4.  What does your mom do that makes you laugh?

"Tickles me, even though I don't like it."

5.  What was your mom like as a child?

"A regular little girl."

6.  How old is your mom?

"Umm....35?"  (He was correct.)

7.  How tall is your mom?

"20 feet"

8.  What is her favorite thing to do?

"Take us out for dinner."

9.  What does your mom do when you're not around?

"She makes scrapbooks for people."

10.  If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

"A fashion model." 

11.  What is your mom really good at?

"Being a mom."

12.  What is your mom not very good at?

"yelling at us."  (ouch.)

13.  What does your mom do for a job?

"She home schools me."

14.  What is your mom's favorite food?

"Spicy things"

15.  What makes you proud of your mom?

"When she cooks a good dinner."

16.  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

"Annie"

17.  What do you and your mom do together?

"We play games."

18.  How are you and your mom the same?

"We both like spending time together."

19.  How are you and your mom different?

"Well, you're 35 and I'm only 7."

20.  How do you know your mom loves you?

"Because you take care of me and love me"

21.  What does your mom like most about your dad?

"You like the color of his eyes."

22.  Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

"Stir Crazy."  

Enough Whining Already

I went back and read my previous post a few minutes ago and think it's ridiculous to whine about something as silly as snow.  

My friend Debbie found out today that she has cancer.  Again.  The prognosis is good, but still.  

Italy has been devastated by a massive earthquake.

And this is a week when we should be filled with NOTHING but gratitude over a Savior who went to a cruel cross for you and me.

Enough whining about the snow.  God, forgive me.

DISGUSTED

I try to stay up-beat and bubbly on this blog.  But I'm having a hard time doing that tonight.

It's April 5th.  And it's snowing.

I'M. SO. OVER. WINTER.

That's all.

You may now resume your normal Sunday night activities.

He Loves Me

Nine years ago we said "I do."  We spent our honeymoon in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, and on one of the days we ventured out, he engraved our initials onto a wooden bridge.  

Last week, he found the spot where it was, and just to be sure it stayed until the next time, he went over it again with his pocket knife.

Don't think for a minute that I don't know how blessed I am.  

I love that man.

The Smoky Mountains!

Some of you guessed correctly...we spent last week in the Smoky Mountains.  We know a couple who graciously offered their cabin to us for the week.  We almost didn't go, but we decided at the last minute to go for it.  I am so glad that we did.  Anyone that knows us well knew that we needed a break badly.  A chance to get away from it all and just relax...and that's precisely what we did!
Our first full day was spent getting groceries, settling in, and relaxing.  Then we headed into the National Park and hiked a bit where we saw wildlife like this.  (We met a couple who saw a mama bear and her cubs!)  It was beautiful scenery, complete with rolling brooks of water, lush green plant life and views of the mountains.  Amazing!  We brought along our latest read aloud, "Little House in the Big Woods," while sitting in the big woods.  Every night, we sat around the fire and read more chapters.  One would end, and one of us would say, "Please????  Just one more chapter!" Needless to say, we finished the book.

Jerry and I celebrated 9 years while we were in the Smokies, and we reminisced about our honeymoon...also taken in this area.  We took the boys to our favorite little hang-outs and posed with our jars of BBQ sauce.  Jerry and I have a silly picture of me with the same jar nine years ago!  Ah, memories.  
We also went up into Cades Cove, another place we had been before, but the boys enjoyed seeing the history and learning more about the first settlers in the Cove.  They did great and really hung in there!

Our digs for the week.  What a beautiful, relaxing time we had!  We are so thankful for this trip and the blessing it was to our family.  I have more to share, but now you know where we've been.  We hope to return soon!  Hope you're all having a great week!