Splash in the Rain Puddles

The stockings are empty, the presents are unwrapped, our company has returned home.  I got up early on this day after Christmas just to have some moments to reflect.  I'm sitting here with my bible and my coffee by the twinkle of the tree....and it is lovely.  There's something about the calm after a storm :).  A good storm.  I'm reading about the wise men.  The journey they took as they followed the star in such anticipation to join in the worship of the tiny baby King.  As my kids sang happy birthday to Jesus last night, my heart was full of joy along with a heart full of a desire that they would never forget that this is why we celebrate......that they will one day fully understand that the reason why we give and receive presents is to demonstrate God's great and consuming love.  Lord, help us teach them them as they grow, that the birthday is only the beginning of the life of our perfect Savior.....the first step of God's plan to save each and every one of his c

I realize that I have absolutely no experience with other preschools and of course I am slight biased, but I have to say....our preschool rocks.  Sure, we may not be in a thriving metropolis where resources and facilities are top of the line....but what is top of the line are the teachers and staff....the way they care for and love each student...the endless smiles and hugs....the creation of an environment that makes kids want to run into their classrooms each morning.  This is our fifth year with the St. John's family and I simply cannot praise them enough for what they do. They do things well. Not over the top or showy. Just heartfelt, and well.  Yesterday was a perfect example.  A wonderful Nativity program complete with costumes and carols.... and adorable handmade surprises that each student gave to their parents with hearts full of joy.  So great.  Many thanks to each of you at the school.  You are amazing!

Oh Luke.  Our dear third born.  What will you do next?  Let's just say I find it a small miracle that our tree is still standing, that he has not yet knocked any teeth out or broken any limbs, and that my nerves are not completely shot.  He certainly is giving us a run for our money....but I guess he will keep us young............or make us age really fast.  Either way.....an adventure for sure.  I now warn people who watch him that he will try to climb, jump off of, eat, or stick his fingers in, pretty much anything he can get ahold of.  Needless to say, this week in nursery he ate a wadded up ball of stickers and got his head stuck in a chair.  awesome :)   We are so proud of this guy.  Student of the month for December!  He continues to be an excellent student and loves his school and everything that goes with it.  To celebrate, he had a special night with just mom and dad, complete with an ice cream sundae.  Great job buddy!! Yes, someone is definitely

Time.  Where has it gone?  Where is it going?!  One day I'll have more than a few minutes to update my blog, but that time is not now.  Despite my rising early and getting a jump on the day....devotions, lunch packing and paperwork seem to be all I can squeeze into my early moments of quiet before the troops awake and it's off to the races.  So for now I will just say, Happy Christmas season!!  It's such a wonderful time.  My little helpers and I have been in full decorating swing and there are few things more special than witnessing their excitement about all the things the season brings.  Memorizing lines for Christmas programs.....learning the words to old carols that are brand new to their young ears...hanging ornaments....stringing garland...baking cookies....squealing with joy that the Christmas lights on the posts through town are finally turned on!!!!!.....and of course Chase is just thrilled that all this is to celebrate a birthday.....he just loves birthday's.

Wishing my wonderful husband a very happy birthday today.  We are so blessed to have you as the head of our household.  Thank you so very much for the way you provide, love, and lead.  You are the best daddy our kids could ask for and I am so blessed to call you mine.  Happy birthday honey!! Trick or treating fun with friends! This guy has been enjoying a 2 week fall break! And there is just nothing better to start my mornings than this sweet little smile!

This is the time of year when our church participates in the wonderful program of Operation Christmas Child.  It's always interesting to see the response of my boys when I remind them of why we do this and how blessed we are to have so much.  One of my strongest hopes and prayers for my children is that they would understand true and humble kindness.....(just ask my hubby).  I pray that they would have kind hearts and show love the way Jesus did.  That they would have a desire to show kindness to people from every walk of life, every social class.  oops I'm just a step away from my soapbox. :)  ok, i'm back on track......we picked up our empty shoe boxes at church on Sunday and I told them to be thinking about what they want to put in their boxes.....that we would make a trip to the store this week to fill them up.  Oh Jack....my always thinking, always practical, the world is black and white child.  He came to me yesterday and told me he had decided what he wants to put in

We have a one year old!  It's hard to believe that a year has passed.  What a blessing.....this little boy....this little boy who we never could have imagined would be here....who we now cannot imagine being without....this little boy who loves his daddy to pieces, is already trying to do everything his brothers do, and can melt his mommy's heart into a puddle with one little smile.What a gift you are to our family Luke Vernon!  Celebrating 1 year.... balloon fascination!! he quite enjoyed his cake!   What a fun night we had celebrating with Jack and Luke!  Thanks to grandma for making yet another amazing cake!! And a few pics from Chase's class trip to the firehouse yesterday.  One of his favorite places to visit! first in line to climb into the truck intently watching the fireman get into all of his gear the whole Pre-K crew.  love those kiddos! 

We now have a 7 year old in the house!  We celebrated Jack's birthday on a very rainy Saturday but had a fun day filled with donuts, presents, football, pizza, and cupcakes.  Certainly not a low calorie day :)  It's a wonderful thing to watch your children grow.  I'm amazed as I watch Jack develop into the young man God has created him to be.  As I've mentioned before, he loves school....loves to learn new things.  Reading and spelling are of course two huge parts of 1st grade.  I can see the pride in his eyes each time he brings home his perfect test scores.  And he has been using his new found knowledge in very practical ways.  He has been saying things like, "Mommy, I have a P-L-A-N.", spelling out the letters of the words he has learned.  Some of the latest...."Mommy, when are you going to make some  P-I-E?"..... "can I have some M-I-L-K?".... "did you know the sun is H-O-T?" ... Look at that huge P-U-M-P-K-I-N!"...a bonu

I was so convicted by an article I read a month or so ago, I'm not sure a day has gone by that I haven't thought about it. It was an article entitled "Time Well Spent", that talked about how "one of the best ways to glorify God is to live a balanced, productive life."  In the article it said, "we tend to think our desires reveal our priorities, but our activities are a more accurate measure.  We may want to spend more time with our families or have a more consistent quiet time with the Lord, but if we're not doing it, then they're not priorities."  so true!! This morning on my way home from Bible Study my littlest man fell asleep in the car....and surprisingly stayed asleep when I lifted him out.....this rarely happens.  I got upstairs to his room.....still asleep.  I looked at his sweet little face and couldn't bring myself to lay him down.  The older two were at school so it was just me and him.  So I closed the curtains, turned the

Some mistakes are just not worth correcting.  Like when Jack is telling me how good my woodboxes (boxwoods) look this year, or when Chase asks when the Raisins (Ravens) are playing, or when Jack asks for banana-rama (marinara) sauce for his cheese sticks, and when Chase thinks that his grandma's house is called Ohio....because we say we are going to Ohio, and then we end up at her house.  Ha!   I spend enough time correcting unkind behavior, unkind words and far more serious grammatical issues to worry about mistakes like these.  Instead, I just listen, I nod, and I smile. Here's what's been happening... First day of school for Chase.  He is loving Pre-K! So great to have some time with my sweet niece and nephew.  These two are too cute together.   Soccer....soccer....and more soccer Second happiest day of Chase's life....first was opening day for T-ball.  This was opening day for soccer.  He scored 6 goals!!  and the great thing about being 4 is t

Fall is around the corner!  I know this for several reasons......today is opening Saturday for college football, soccer practice is in full swing, and the hum of combines can be heard in the air.  What a great time of year....definitely a favorite of mine. Chad and I had a wonderful weekend at the beach to celebrate our anniversary.  We cannot thank mom and dad enough for staying with the boys and giving us a much needed break!  Thanks Gramps and Grandma!!  You're the best!! Soccer is underway.  It's a little crazy with the boys on separate teams with different practice schedules.  But they are loving it.  Getting ready for opening day next Saturday!! What a wonderful treat from Gramps.  He got a swing for Luke to add to our playset and it's wonderful!  He loves to swing like his big brothers! :)   I'm so fortunate to have these repairmen around to keep this place in top shape :) And these days there are few things more entertaining t