Memorial Weekend

After church Sunday, we packed up and headed to the camp. "We going to dat camper", as Luke likes to say. The weather was perfect, surprisingly, it's still not too hot. The kids are always excited to go. And when I say excited, I mean they run around and yell like wild animals.

The huckleberry (aka googleberries) bush was loaded. The plan was to pick enough to make something with. Pancakes, muffins, syrup. Yum.

Thank goodness for Erin and myself, or we wouldn't have much to show for our picking. Erin may have eaten two berries in two days. She'll appreciate them more with sugar.

 Luke could not get them off the bush fast enough. As soon as he got a few in his cup, well, you see....  

Luke soon realized that putting the berries in the cup was a complete waste of time. In fact, he felt no need to pick them with his hands at all.

We got unpacked & our swimsuits on to hop in the pond. Or as I like to say, "take 6 very long steps through the mush to get to deeper water where my feet can't touch."

After our swim we visited the neighbors...

Vegetable gardens...

and fish feeding...

Can you see them?

We discovered more berries...

and a bee's supper...

We had a great time, did lots of exploring, rock and wood gathering, marshmallow roasting...and very little stressing. Nice.

A heartfelt "thank you" to the veterans who keep our country safe and allow us to have such luxuries.

I'm Lovin' It

I had all intentions of taking pictures of our Fun Fridays this summer. Well, two Fridays have passed, we have had fun, and I have no picutres, not one, to account for it. Mainly because (1) you can't take a camera in the water (2) when watching your own children, plus sometimes an extra child, it's best to keep your eyes on them.

So, in the last two weeks, we have had a very intimate (Erin, Luke, Erica & myself) cupcake birthday party for Erica who has turned 5.

We had a swimming playdate with Anna at Aunt Lynn's house.

And yesterday, after debating with myself for weeks, purchased Blue Bayou summer passes for the kids & myself.

We have rode our bikes multiple times a day, played baseball with no equipment at the park, had cool library trips and slipped & slided with grass covered feet.

We have...enjoyed summer.  I am completely thankful.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.

Psalms 127:3-4

~Dahlia~

Genesis 1:11

 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.

The Bear Gets An Award

She did it! Erin completed her 2nd year of AWANA in spite of a few really hard verses to remember. She memorized (or at least honed her reading skills) 28 verses in all this year. And while she may not have always felt like reciting them, I know I am not the only One who is proud of her.



Her vest is full and so is my heart! If I could just get up the initiative to sew her last patch on...



Now sing with me...

We are AWANA cubbies, we're happy all day long.
We know that Jesus loves us, that's why we sing this song.
We hop because we're happy, we jump and shout for joy.
For Jesus is a friend to us,
He loves each girl and boy!

John 3:16-21
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Fun Friday ~ Wide Open Spaces

Last week we kicked off our first Fun Friday for the summer. We took a short drive to the country to visit my Aunt & Uncle before they headed north to escape the summer heat.

Erin had really been wanting to ride the horse, but with the school & errands & weekend stuff, we just never made it. Finally, no more school for 2.5 glorious months. We had time!

I was pretty sure Luke was not going to get near an animal even impersonating a horse. But he did a pretty good job occupying himself too! He is his father's son and much prefers to ride things that do not have a mind of their own.

First up - we checked out the not so wildlife.

Then posed for a few pictures.

Erin was SO excited to wear her cowgirl hat that we got from the after Halloween sale last year.

Luke was immediately drawn to the rows of tractors and 4 wheelers. I wonder when those sweet dimples on his little hands will fade away.

Next, Luke's dream came true when he actually got to DRIVE the tractor!

(Thanks Di for these pictures)

And the moment the little cowgirl had been waiting for...

A little cleaning up before heading back home...

Everyone enjoyed themselves. And it's always a good day when it ends this way!

Thanks Aunt Di & Uncle Mel!

Side Note: Does anyone know what is going on with Blogger? I nearly pulled my hair out tonight getting the pictures placed where they should be & trying to remove empty space at the top of the post.

~Cat Nappin'~

Say It Isn't So

A few weeks ago Erin's preschool had their "end of the year" celebration. We were thankful the rain held off long enough for the kids to jump, have their faces painted, and squirt each other silly with water bottles.

The "strong man" in the picture is Bryton. He started school after the school year officially began and he cried the first day. When Erin told me about it, it broke my heart. I said "Sweetie, you have to be his friend so he's not afraid." I think that she made an impression on him he won't soon forget. I hope Erin learned something from the experience too.

Tonight, my baby girl graduated from preschool  in spite of my efforts to stop her from growing. But if you have the potion, it may not be too late!

Erin's class performed a reggae version of "Baa baa black sheep" (which I hope to post later). She was by far the most beautiful black sheep I have ever seen.

They also sang "He knows my name". There is nothing more sweet than hearing children sing these words.

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in his hands

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

Erin & Mrs Rae, her teacher this year. We were not out of the parking lot tonight and Erin was wanting to come see her again, and go play at her house. Thankfully, she will teach VBS this summer and Erin will be old enough to attend.

Erin, Luke & Granny. What is it with my children and group pictures?

I had to hold them down.

There was a reception following. But I rarely saw Erin, she was too busy socializing.

Baby girl, we are proud of you!

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These Are Some Good Times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

He's Got My Back

Sometimes the more I read my bible, the more I come away with questions than answers. But the questions I have are about the details... I  do not question His love for me. I know who's got my back. I know Who has the answers.

Psalm 56

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands. A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;

Fighting all day he oppresses me.

2 My enemies would hound me all day,

For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3 Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

4 In God (I will praise His word),

In God I have put my trust;

I will not fear.

What can flesh do to me?

5 All day they twist my words;

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather together,

They hide, they mark my steps,

When they lie in wait for my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are they not in Your book?

9 When I cry out to You,

Then my enemies will turn back;

This I know, because God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise His word),

In the LORD (I will praise His word),

11 In God I have put my trust;

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;

I will render praises to You,

13 For You have delivered my soul from death.

Have You not kept my feet from falling,

That I may walk before God

In the light of the living?

~Young & Tender~

This Ain't Hallmark

The morning started off well enough. Erin slept until 7:22, climbed into bed with me and snoozed a few minutes more. It gave me the quiet chance to pray for patience. A breakfast of waffles and a swept floor, I was ready for a morning jog. Erin wanted to stay home with her Dad & color, Luke was willing to come along on his bike.

He wanted to be the line leader. Fine enough, until I started jogging... and he did not keep up. Which meant I was the line leader. Who knew a nearly 3 year old could scream & cry for .7 miles? Well, I know and so does our neighborhood. The man outside watering his freshly planted tree must have wondered about us. We finally made it home. Straight to his room he had to go. I was greeted by the most beautiful sunshine coloring page and a smiling face.

While getting dressed for church, Erin asked to see the singing bunnies in the Christmas shoeboxes. Sounds of "Jesus loves me" filled the small bathroom.

Later, more cries..Smears of snot on church clothes...Claims of  "I'm bigger - I not little." Apparently not too big to stay home with Dad to get a much needed nap.

Erin and I had a chance to check out the new flowers that bloomed. Her sunflower we have been anticipating...the first daylilly of the year.

A nuzzle.

A kiss.

We ventured off to church. It was my turn to teach her class. Thank the good Lord the other mom assigned to my class showed up. Ten children are fine on a good day, but there are always a couple of boys in there who are not on their "good day" to say the least.

We made it back home and had time for lunch and a little playtime break before visiting Mom. Also time for more meltdowns, this time from Erin who was clearly disappointed that we would not be purchasing frozen confections from the ice cream man. Must he pass every day and stir up my children? Apparently, he does.

I must say the visit to Mom's went very well. Everyone was on their best behavior. We walked in the woods, spotted a snake, some turkey tracks, and got our feet quite dusty.

Back home to cook a quick supper of chicken fettucine, more bike rides, the smell of boiling crawfish, baths and bed. It's after 9:00 pm and all is quiet.

And with God's grace I will get to do it all over again tomorrow, hopefully with improvements.

This is mother's day. Every day.

Mothers Day

Wonderful Mother

God made a wonderful mother,

A mother who never grows old;

He made her smile of the sunshine,

And He moulded her heart of pure gold;

In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,

In her cheeks fair roses you see;

God made a wonderful mother,

And He gave that dear mother to me.

Pat O'Reilly

As I Look Back...

As I look back on my life

I find myself wondering...

Did I remember to thank you

for all that you have done for me?

For all of the times you were by my side

to help me celebrate my successes

and accept my defeats?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

good judgement, courage, and honesty?

I wonder if I've ever thanked you

for the simple things...

The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If I have forgotten to express my gratitude

For any of these things,

I am thanking you now...

and I am hoping that you've known all along,

how very much you are loved and appreciated.

Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day Mom.
At least I never went to prison.
I love you!

~Right This Way~

Special Guest

Our church's student ministry Global Impact was this weekend. I have to say this is probably the only time I wish I was a 6th - 12th grader again, because it seems like they have a great time in the Lord. The youth choir sang & danced. Then the rest of us "old folks" got a sample of what they had heard from their musical guest.

He introduced himself as Big Al. He said he was a rapper (not a sandwich wrapper). He said he sings hip hop for the Lord.

Big Al gave an awesome testimony. He grew up in North Louisiana. His Mom remarried when he was young, to a verbal and physically abusing man. At the age of 9, Big Al became an alcoholic. When he was 12 years old, he began working jobs to pay for the electrical and water bill for his family. His Mom had squandered all of their money on gambling. All the while, he maintained a 4.0 GPA. When Big Al was 16 years old he attended a youth ministry camp and surrendered his life to Christ.

He went on to attend a couple of different universities in Louisiana, and graduated with honors from Grambling. He now teaches calculus and geometry at a high school in North Louisiana and is surely a witness to his students every day.

He was called by God to minister to the youth. Big Al is truly a great example of how someone can overcome anything when you have Jesus backing you up. He rapped "Get Low" (and explained that means to humble yourself) to a crowd of "less than tan" individuals. I couldn't find that song on youtube, but this morning I was yet again was wishing I had my camera in church.

Here is what I did find...



I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13