Wyatt turns one

Tyleigh and Brayden

Wyatt was GOOD at turning 1!! And he was great to share with his Mommy too!

His Daddy had to help him get started and let him know it was okay to get messy.
Tyleigh describes how we all felt by the end of a very fun day!

(More TX pictures to come later)

Words of a friend

I recently read the words of a friend. A question, "How can I help you stand through this?" Not spoken to me but powerful words. Reaching out, offering, serving. I loved it.

In moments of joy, we reach out to those close, those who will share it with us. Joy overflows and can't be contained.

Moments of fear and hurt, sometimes we reach out, sometimes we try to hold it within us and attempt to be strong. But holding it in makes it sour and more painful. The longer it is "in" it cements to the depths of us and makes it nearly impossible to share. Cement is heavy.

I hope you know, I am always here and I want to know how I can help you stand through whatever You're going through.

God knows exactly what I need

I am wondering how many times I've made it hard on my fellow Christian brothers and sisters. I have really examined my heart about this and am praying God will make me aware of my actions and words. Saying "I'm a Christian" is a common thing in this world usually just meaning I believe in Jesus Christ. But, saying it brings a big responsibility. Saying it means nothing if I'm not willing to live it. Not living it voids the words.

We met a man who is hurting. I don't know the extent, the causes, the reasons and maybe never will. He ate supper with us Friday and he touched my heart and made a raw spot. He said he goes to church and I didn't ask the extent of his relationship with God. However, with tears in his eyes, he said, "....she did all that and she's a CHRISTIAN....". He was speaking of a family member of his. That's what made me start thinking, in a deeper than ever way, am I making it hard on brothers and sisters? Are people saying that about my actions and words? It humbled me and makes me feel so strongly that in myself I am absolutely nothing but ugly human stuff. Only through God's work in my life, as He chooses and when He chooses, only those actions are of any value. I really want to be available to Him. We read the verses today in Galatians that talk about being crucified with Him. Crucify is such a violent, Painful word. Am I really willing for that? Not very often.

This man who came into our lives through our purchase of his vehicle caused a gash in my comfort zone. I hoped, when he left our presence, he knew we were Christians not because we said grace before supper or because of my Bible on the table, but by our lives. I hope he saw Jesus in our house, in our family. I hope he felt encouraged and strengthened in God when he left. My eyes tear up as I type because his hurt is the kind that only God can heal and that I felt so keenly just being around him. A youngish man with war injuries that cause him to be visibly disabled...pain from life...I thank God for sharing him with us and gashing open my comfort zone.

Between this experience and going to a funeral of a very special lady, yesterday, my feelings are on top! Okay, okay..maybe because I'm a woman and there are times it is just like that! I loved the theme of the minister...."It is well with my soul". I love that hymn and I listened to it every morning, for a while, on the way to work. That was the theme of Louis's life and I had to say that even though I knew her only a few years, I plainly saw that in her joyous life.

My life is full because God sends me people I need. I am thankful He knows exactly what I need.

WE PASSED!!!

We passed our electrical inspection today!!!! RAISE A TOAST!

Do you ever feel like a stupid mom??!!

This is my son's finger.

In April, he was playing catch with a football with his Dad. The ball hit his finger, he jumped around and said, "ow" and then said he was fine and kept playing. That evening, he came into the living room with a bandage the size of Texas wrapped around his index finger. We gave him GRIEF!! We all had a good laugh. I dug out a finger splint and he wore it for a week or so. He even played his sax in state band competition!! We've all jammed our fingers, right? A right of passage of growing up. Nothing more thought of it. He didn't complain.

About a week ago, I noticed the joint was still swollen and was bent instead of straight. He hadn't complained...I hadn't noticed. He said yeah, it still hurts if I try to lift something but no big deal. I took him to our family doc yesterday and they x-rayed it. Today the call comes that he needs to see a hand surgeon!!! A bone in the knuckle is broken.

Moral of the story...if your child jams a finger, pay attention, remember to look at it and if it isn't healing correctly after one week, go to the doctor!! Little kids show you their boo boos on a daily basis and remind you of the pains. Somewhere, some how, there is this change where they don't. Beware!

SUMMER TIME!

This about sums it up...lazy summer days!
One basketball camp down for one kid, one to go for another.

Swimmin' at Aunt Shari's and Uncle Danny's. The kids had a blast!

Sweet little babies grow up way to fast! All FOUR of them!! Seems like yesterday Daniel and Brandon were babies and now they are daddies..good ones...and my baby girl is only one inch shorter than I!

Last night, the dogs were going crazy! Jerry looked out to see a "jack rabbit" squared off with Molly. He ventured out and the "rabbit' didn't move. Turns out, there were twin baby antelopes born near our chicken hutch. Aren't they so cute!!?? I love their eyelashes!(I think is the same one twice, but twins are twins!)

Don't call child protective services!

This is NOT a lynching! Jerry lowered Jess into the chicken yard to empty the water tub.
We finally have control of her! She's penned up with the birds!

I'm not sure what inspired this, but all parties thought it was fun......