Quick Trips!

Friday night was the first game I missed of the Big J's high school career- It was an adjustment for both of us! We will be back on this Friday... AND.....our basketball schedule is out and we have some great games scheduled this year! Three on the weekend.. can't get any better than that!

All wrapped up - getting ready for his day!

B was reading the entire weekend (well when she wasn't playing with her cousins!) She has finally started to enjoy longer chapter books. Amazing what the words of a teacher can do for a child!

This isn't what I had planned for the baseball game, but man did the little J have some fun!

Yes, he was playing in the dirt with the garbage can behind him.. at one point he was drawing circles (with his finger) around the garbage can! It was extreme gross for me! I almost purchased bottle water to pour on him before he got in my car! He was baseball dirt color from head to toe! He turned his bath water orange, and that dirt was EVERYWHERE!!!

The little J's version of the party was to eat his cupcake in layers, thus adding about 4 layers of icing! And the color did not matter- we just needed icing and blue sprinkles!

Who would have thought - a cupcake party! This was so neat- my sister-in-law was having a party and this was one of the activities for the kids! This was our "dry" run and they loved it!!

Making a run for it in the rain! The little J did so well on this trip! It helped that it was just over 6 hours, and he took a great nap there and home Sunday. His movies were an added plus too!

We took a quick trip (pictures above) to NC last weekend- Derek had a conference and the kids and I had a chance to see my brother's family! What a blast we had. I could live there too! The weather was beautiful, and it was so much fun watching our kids play together. The M was such a big help- we had 11, 8, 8, 5, 4, and 3! It was so neat to see them "talk" about their lives and play together. I even let the little J get in the dirt at the ballpark. I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin (it was so gross) but everyone else was in the dirt as well! The little J was so happy- at one point he laid down and rolled in it-- that of course (if you know me) had to stop! All I could think was RINGWORM=RINGWORM=RINGWORM!!!! Working in a school kind of does that to you!

Today it actually felt like Fall! We finally have had some rain and things are not so dry! We have a big tropical storm (maybe hurricane) moving up our coast- Should be an interesting Wednesday / Thursday. It is rumored to bring cooler weather for awhile. That would be a welcome relief!

This is my favorite season! I just love the colors of the season, and the promise that comes with the holidays. It is truly my favorite time of year. I can hardly wait to haul the kids to the pumpkin patch for pictures! And then plan for Thanksgiving.. where miracles may be lurking :-)

I am really trying to spend a lot more time in the word and in prayer- I find when I do this I am much more focused, calm, and ready for whatever should come my way. I have kept praying this scripture:

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7

Focus on the good and the negative seems to fade away.. think about the blessings you have been given, and the heartaches fall into the background. I do strive to be better at not worrying, or being resentful about what hasn't happened. And then I know there is a season for everything- and that season will come in God's time, and in God's way.

Until then we will revel in what has been given to us and the promise of what is yet to come!