Multitude Monday----what number am I on?!!

Oh so thankful for cousins, relaxing fun days, smiles galore and shaded swimming pools! (up to #689)
For FAST times that blow all of the thoughts and worries from your brain and rattle your body so much that the extra ones jiggle right out! (Jess and Selina) (690)

For Aunties, for nephews, for nieces. For the bonds that make my sisters kids mine and my kids theirs. (#691-694)


For teasing! For powdered sugar donuts that are yucky and smiles that say, "Oh no they aren't!" For Great nieces....cause plain ol' nieces were pretty special already! For life jackets too! Especially pink ones. (#695-701)

For KISSES!!! and how they are so much more fun when someone is saying ,"Don't you DARE kiss my daughter!!!"(#702-703)

For fun times. For little girls who think they are big and for big girls who were just little yesterday! (#704-706)

Should I be thankful for dorky "I'm cool" looks? Yes, I am. And for toes that in "tippy" position make us taller women! (#707-708)

I'm thankful for faith. For peace beyong understanding. For answered prayers. I'm thankful that I KNOW fear is not of God and therefore, he can and will replace it when we ask. I'm thankful for doctors who understand urgency in a mother's eyes and are willing to skip lunch to make it right. I'm thankful for being a mother. For the nurture God puts in us.

I'm thankful...I'm thankful... (#709-715)

Summertime!

I was so thrilled when my first ever iris' bloomed! I see it a smile from heaven!
Our new baby calf. We have two "Pet" cows...old girls..who we just couldn't part with when we sold the herd. This is one of their babies, born yesterday. She is soooo sweet!

Jerry's girls! The one on the left is the new Momma and the one on the right is Suzy..the expectant momma. Jerry was distracting the mom so we could give loves to her baby.

The kids, taking turns loving on the baby.

Birth and new life is something that never gets old and always gives me the warm fuzzies! Miracles!

Multitude Monday

#674 It is SUMMER!!

676. We've had nice rains. No more drought! The green grass and weeds are so beautiful this year!

677. I'm thankful for old friends. The ones who love you no matter what. They love you in the dark, so to say....for who you are on the inside, not just what they see.

678. I'm thankful Riley is out of Afganistan. I think I can count that one every day.

679. I'm thankful for healing.

680. Today, a baby calf was born. I'm thankful for the miracle of life, of birth, that never gets old and always gives me goosebumps.

681. I'm thankful for the freedom to juggle my schedule. Routine is great, but I love having times when there is not an agenda. Ahhh....nice.

682. I'm thankful for the truths in scriptures that are new all the time.

683. I'm thankful for cold iced tea on the porch!

684. For the blue sky that is only this color here.

685. I love clean laundry! Especially dried in the sun.

Have a beautiful week. Enjoy every moment, every person.
Forgive. Heal relationships.
Hug.
Say I love you.
Make the best of what you have..always.

Kicking off summer!

We celebrated 19 years of marriage, to start off June! It is completely unreal that it has been that long and that we are this old! HA!

The kids were involved in helping teach Bible school this week. Jessie taught songs and Cody taught recreation. They had a blast and loved doing it. I really love seeing the influence of older kids on younger kids. The little ones respond so well to the older ones and the older ones get confidence and encouragement in their faith. It was a great week!

Below is Jess with some of her friends after a water fight.



This is Beki and Cody. Yes, it is Cody's girlfriend. She is a very nice girl from an incredible family.

Here are Jess and Jamie roasting hotdogs one night in our yard. They took a break from roasting to make up and sing a few songs, puncuated with much laughter!

A group of friends had a great afternoon in the swimming pool. Summer is just great!

That is a sampling of the start of summer in our circle. I love summer. I love the kids being home, them being HAPPY and able to completely be themselves. It is some serious food for thought to think of the pressure immorality, values, drug use, alcohol use, etc. that is so prevelant in our schools, affect them so negatively and drag them down so much during the school year. The upswing of that is I see great growth in character, faith and wisdom that come from having to be strong. For that, I'm thankful! (And it isn't even Monday yet!)