I love you so so much

This is Noah and he loves to crawl up in you lap and say I love you so so much.
He is Emma's brother.. I have had him since he was 4 months and in Oct he will be 4. Wow the times have flown by...Noah is truly a treasure and when he is not around it is noticed. He brings laughter and light into a room and bless his heart he is always having to talk above the crowd b/c he was the youngest until Ella just came. I will post her tomorrow. Noah loves big and I love him oh so so so much.

It's Daddy's birthday! The above pic was taken 2 summers ago. Summer of 2007 and the band pic taken a few moments ago. You may be wondering why I posted the summer one I did b/c it is one of my favorite pictures of the boys with their dad. He has and is always willing to do fun and exciting things. He also is great at helping me home school. David takes Landon to band and pays attention too in order to help him practice his trombone, and this year he is helping Parker with piano. The teacher required a parent attend lessons and learn with child and since mom has other little ones to baby sit Daddy spends lunch hour on Wed. with Parker at Piano... Oh what a blessing to have hubby so supportive and a daddy who is just as excited to see the boys learn new things. He also is our principal and math teacher besides the full time worker at Phillips. I am so thankful for him to be so supportive in all I do as well. He is our cheerleader when things are getting hard and keeps on task and consistent when we grow weary. I love you sweetie. Thanks for being the smile at the end of a long day and calm force behind us all that keeps us steady. So happy to have another year with you. So thankful that God made you and we are in this journey together. Happy Happy Birthday.

Hurricane Safari

Parker is 8! No more little boys. But oh my... I love you dear Parker and am so thankful for the past 8 years. I can' t believe they have gone so fast. A friend the other day reminded me of a book on preteens and the book says 8-12 years old. A new era in our house, my boys are growing into young men and I am riding on the fastest ride I ever imagined. I am so thankful for the kisses and hugs and the out of the blue " I love you momma" ( Yes, both boys still say momma and not mother or mom I am so thankful for each time I hear that). Parker was so excited about his Safari party. We have been planning this and no rain was going to dampen our day. We debated all morning whether to move it to our house or keep it at the park.. We kept it at the park all the kiddos had a blast it was perfect for boys especially... My husband thought of us just using trash bags as rain coats. We hid animals in the trees and the rest they just played in rain. I don't think Parker will ever forget this one. Parker always comes up with great ideas for parties. They are simple but so much fun. Children teach us so much. Just enjoy the blessings God give us each day and wow how perfect was it that it was a warm rainy day for our safari party day. But more special to spend it with you Parker!!!!

Psalm 66:5 "Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men."

Landon enjoying brother's birthday just as much with friend

AHHH those eyes and that smile who could resist..

Emma Grace.....

This is one of my kiddos I care for.. not mine but close enough.

I have had her since she was 4 months old and now she is five and

going on 16.... She came today with her hair already done by herself. It was fabulous pigtails that a very independent five year old could do. Her daddy asked her if she wanted me to redo her hair... She said no and we said great. Later at breakfast she said Mrs. Paige would you braid my hair? I said of course. Then we tried and it was not working so she said how about pig tails? I said sure. I wish I would have taken a picture of her pigtails too. (next time) It is funny how you care for children and yet they are the ones who teach you. I am studying about Martha and Mary and how not to be a Martha... I as a woman who loves the Lord and wants to glorify Him have such good intentions to guide my children to Love the Lord. But, I can be an independent fixer too and go about my business without asking God for help. I get distracted from focusing on Him and really seeking after how He wants me to be. I don't allow His hands to make the way. I learned a deep lesson about just humbling myself and crying out ABBA. He will help me and do it better and far more efficient than I ever could. He is helping me to be still and sit at His feet and ask Him, How am I to do this Lord? Just trust and obey... In my own strength my ways look like Emma's ponytails not quite right yet with His hands making it .... it comes out a lot smoother and shinier..

2Cor. 12 9-10 " But ( God) said to me " My Grace is sufficient for you my power is made perfect in weakness," Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for when I am weak than I am strong.

Emma I pray you will know the Lord so much better than I someday.

This week at our house...

Here are a few of the things we accomplished this week. Enjoy!

We finished the kitchen and the cabinet. Parker learned to ride his bike without training wheels.

Have you been Washed?

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

As a mother I remember the care I took in bathing my beautiful baby boys when they were infants, making sure to get soap and water in every crevice and wrinkle on their chubby baby legs, and also making sure they were well rinsed in every crevice. As my boys are growing into young men, I now have to trust them to bathe themselves. Now I try to remind them before they shower, “Use soap all over and wash in all places.” Other times I ask lovingly when they have finished, “Did you use soap all over?” Sometimes they have to return to the shower because they did not use soap. This is not an uncommon happening among children because I have heard the same kinds of stories from my friends and other mothers. I have even heard that some children will go as far as washing their arm but nothing else because they know their mother will smell their arm to see if they have bathed.

These bathing experiences bring the scripture above to mind. Do we use our “soap”, which is spending time in the word, to allow God to cleanse us in every wrinkle and crevice of our hearts? Do we allow His word to wash us clean as Christ wants? Or are we like some children, just showering without soap or just washing our arms only to live a life of hypocrisy?