Splash in the Rain Puddles

Christmas is in the air!  Today we are getting a very unusual early December snow.  And even for this summer loving girl, snow around Christmastime is just fun and magical.  Our house is decorated and cookies are baked.  We've been enjoying the holiday cheer...apart from this past week when the stomach bug decided to wreak havoc on a few of us.  but we're moving on and looking forward to healthy days ahead.  As I look at my calendar for the rest of the month, the days are full of activity and there doesn't seem to be much free time.  But it's my prayer that with each party, with each gathering shared with friends and family, we would never forget who we are celebrating and why we are celebrating.  I'm always overwhelmed when I think about the amazing gift of Jesus.  We are so blessed and undeserving to receive such a gift.  But how grateful I am for such a loving and gracious God.  For a God who gave the world his baby boy.  a baby boy that would grow and change et

It's November!  The start of the month that holds my favorite holiday.  Thanksgiving is my favorite.  A time to focus on all that we have...not all that we need....or should I say, want.  I'm thinking of my children in particular.  Teaching them the importance of gratitude and contentment is a deep desire in my mommy heart.  I feel very strongly that when we do not really grasp those two concepts and truly live with an attitude of thanksgiving, it becomes really difficult to have a spirit of joy. As Christians, we are given the gift of eternal life...the gift of mercy and grace that is new every morning...the gift of being a disciple of Christ.  As Americans, we are given the gift of freedom...the gift of living in a country that is a blessed land...blessed in ways that most of the world can only dream of.  And as members of our own families, we are given the gift of acceptance and love....the gift of belonging...the gift of knowing those people will always be there for you.  T

Today my baby turns 4.  my littlest one who makes every day an adventure.  There are many times when I look at him and am overwhelmed by God's amazing greatness.  If there is ever a moment when I doubt God's power or his ability to do the impossible....I just look at Luke Vernon....and there it is.  A living, breathing gift of God's goodness and grace.  And also a very clear reminder of how desperately I need him to guide me in raising this little spark plug.  He knows no stranger....which can make for some pretty awkward moments in public places....he loves to make people laugh....which makes for some pretty interesting moments in school.....he loves to be just like his brothers....which makes for some really entertaining moments as he attempts just to keep up....he is so sincere and just beginning to grasp what it really means to love Jesus and how much Jesus loves him. He is learning to pray and understanding how to bring his concerns to God.  What a joy to watch it come

I'm not sure how it can be.  10 years ago I became a mom.  After days of labor and an emergent delivery, God blessed us with a son.  Nothing could have prepared me for the intense love that overtook me when I first held him in my arms.  He was perfect in every way....entering such an imperfect world, with such imperfect parents......who were relying and trusting in our perfect heavenly Father to guide us through parenthood.  What a journey it is.  Nothing has brought me more joy than watching our children grow.  There have been so many happy moments....and a few hard and challenging ones.  But through it all I have watched my tiny little first born baby, transform into a young man who I am so proud to call my son.  He loves Jesus...with a kind heart that cares for others in a way that goes far beyond his 10 years.  He loves his family and expresses his love freely...everyday...and holds so tightly to all the things that make us his family....our traditions, our quirks, our way of l

A new school year is underway and these first three weeks have gone great.  Smooth transitions and smiling faces at pick up make things much easier for mom :)   all ready for 4th and 2nd grade pre-K 3 for this guy flag football is underway few things make him happier than riding in the tractor with dad during corn harvest    growing so fast and filling my heart with so much pride and joy.  Thank you God for these amazing lives you've entrusted to us.  I pray they would show your love and kindness in all that they do and say throughout this school year.  

We are in a stretch of many days that feel like this.... So we took a fun family day yesterday to do this.... a day at my favorite place with my favorite people... especially this guy today marks 13 years of this crazy and wild ride called marriage.  I'm not sure how that much time has passed.  I'm not sure how our boys are growing up so fast, turning into such wonderful young men.  I'm not sure how our twenties seem like so long ago.  I'm not sure how we are going to make it though the teenage years.....yikes.  But I am sure, that we serve a good and gracious God, blessing us in ways far beyond what we ever could have imagined.  and I'm sure that he knew exactly what he was doing when he joined our lives together 13 years ago.   And I'm sure that I love you more and more as each year passes.  Happy Anniversary my love!!

We've been enjoying wonderful weeks full of sweet summertime fun!   Chase's all star team finished up their season with a championship win!  Such a proud day for coach Dad.  Great job Nanticoke All Stars!! We checked another thing off our summer to do list by taking the older boys to their first O's game.  It could not have been a more perfect night. visit from Ohio family!   my freezer is now stocked full of our garden's sweet corn.   State Fair fun! Tons of fun of the river with Virginia cousins and Luke's new best buddy, Scout! :) love these kids so much! yum.  summer produce is the best.   Only two and a half more weeks until I send my kiddos back to school.  Football practice began last night for the older boys and I'm starting to get that itch for fall as I always do.  What a great summer it has been!!