Playing Catch-Up Again...-

I absolutely love these kids! They, as their faces show, are the funniest, most desirable children anyone could have. They make our lives so complete.. ready to please, smart with their school work, and love each other fiercely! God has truly blessed us! Can you tell they were over posing for me nicely! This is what they get for their blog picture today! The dock- such a pretty place- minus the fact I thought the little J would have much preferred to jump in! I love summer camp :-)

What a day.. but still smiles! Our tire light came on, so off to the tire store we go! Well, it seems that we have 3 nails in 3 tires, so four new tires did we buy! And as the little J said "they sure are pretty momma!" yeah.. I would agree they sure were pretty expensive!!! I guess all that running on interstates finally caught up with us. We are just thankful we didn't get stuck on the side of the road.. small graces of God right there!

Ever the clown! Getting fit at the pool! He is loving push-ups for some reason now. Not sure if he has been watching the Big J or M but he certainly can do his share! B was glad to get some pool time in at camp- and the little J is just about able to save himself! He can go from the middle to the side, but not vice-versa. It amazes me that he is able to swim at 3-

At church camp.. sticks were abound, and so were hickory nuts! I think the little J could play with this everyday and never miss a "store" toy. He loved being outside, and I loved to see him run.. even if at times I felt he was a wee-bit out of control. HAHA- one of my friends who was with me, gently reminded me.. he IS a boy and this is what THEY do! God continues to teach me new things about boys everyday!

WOW! Is just about all I can say! This summer is flying by, and we have been just about every where it seems! It seems it all started the week of 6/21 with VBS, then a Patrol Sponsor Trip to Washington DC the week of 6/27, then a great time in Gatlinburg 7/3, followed by a quick trip over to see my parents, then the week of 7/19 church camp! WHEW... with one more trip this week for AAU Nationals it will be finished! And thankfully I still will have 2 full weeks of summer break. And let me just tell you.. my house and yard have missed me! My poor container plants look a little limp. I guess the rain has slacked off some here-

It has been great having the kids out though- at some points I have had the opportunity to have each one of them alone and I am so thankful for who God has given to me. Each one of them are so unique and special. While we still are waiting on the other 2, God continues to give us some peace with that situation, and two really good attorneys that seem to have a handle on what needs to be done. To say that I don't become frustrated would not be the entire truth, but I do feel that God has the situation under control. Which is why I read Crazy Love again twice in the last 3 weeks. That book really makes you think about all the good God has for you, and yet on a daily basis, a minute by minute basis, we simply do not ask for those blessings. Why?? Makes no sense. So, to keep my mind sharp and focused I did start another journal, just to force myself to think about where we are and what's going on- To ask for things, and to write down just where HE shows up everyday! It is truly amazing, because in the mundane we skip right over those little graces! It also helps me focus on the good that is before me, and not worry about what I don't have, or don't like- This world is a crazy place, and yet we have so much more than others- jobs, homes, bank accounts, medical insurance.. things that I certainly take for granted on a daily basis! My one summer vice has still been Sonic happy hour- and yet what I spend at Sonic in a week is what some have to manage their entire household for the month! CRAZY!!!

At camp this week, M was able to skype with a young teenage farmer in Africa who cares for his siblings because his parents are deceased. We heard about the conference in our meeting, but hearing her describe that situation, and how much it touched her almost made me cry. It does go back to we have so much, and yet we find ourselves fretting over the smallest non-important things. How do we get so off-track? Listening to her all the way home talk about her counselors and the week just moves my soul. She is so tender-hearted and loves GOD! This week was truly a blessing for her. When she said to me "I just wanted to do something to help.. I just wanted to cry" I know that she saw the need there... It has her thinking and that is what we want to instill in all of our children- we are here to help others-

This coming week (tomorrow actually) is the Big J's time to shine! AAU basketball all week! I pray that he plays his game, and stays focused! It can be so competitive out there, and I don't ever want him to lose his love for the game- not to mention his coach can be a little difficult at times! But alas... that is why he travels with his momma!

Well- I must run to pick up that boy now, so I will close with this---

If everything that is given to us, is given to us from God, why do we have such a hard time giving it back when it really isn't ours to begin with.