VBS

The boys and I got up early and headed off to VBS. There VBS is so awesome and hundreds of kids come and tons of workers. This is just the k-5th and you can't see half the room in the pictures. They by far have the coolest VBS I have ever been apart of. I have taken the boys and worked at this Bible school for the past 5 years except last year when had my crash. This year I am working in the baby room. ;-) It is overwhelming to be apart of something like this...

Jonas Birthday party yesterday!

Jonas will turn 6years old on Wednesday, but we had him a party yesterday with family and his friends. We played a fun balloon game and I think the kids enjoyed that. Then we had cupcakes and ice-cream. Jonas is such a sweetheart and I can't believe he is almost 6 already.

Simple is Best

I often think that it's the simple things in life that are the best! I thought I would journal a few of my favorite simple things...

1.) I love sitting out in the yard with Kyle just watching the boys play on a summer evening.

2.) Going to Fazoli's as a family...

3.) Going for a walk with the boys. They love to pick me flowers. ;-)

4.) Love to just sit and talk to Kyle about our life

5.) I love to sit out in the sunshine and think about the goodness of God.

6.) Having family movie night and cuddling with the kids

7.) I love seeing my boys cute little faces in the morning when they look so sleepy & cute!

8.) Waving at Kyle in the mornings when he leaves for work.

9.) Listening to my boys tell about there fun day.

10.) Holding hands with Kyle.

I just love being a wife and mother. It is what I have always wanted to be. I am very blessed! Every single day is filled with the simple things that make life great. What are the simple things that make your life great?

Jeremiah's open house

Jeremiah had his open house at his gifted summer class this morning. He took a robotics class this year. They got to do a lot of really cool stuff. They build there own Lego robots that could move and dance. They programed them to do different stuff. They also built there own robots. He has really enjoyed this class...

Cute pics of the boys...

The boys were being so cute last night at bedtime. Jonas is reading really good now and he loves to read to Malachi. He told Malachi to come lay in his bed and he would read him a bed time story. Jonas is really thrilled that he can read now. He loves to read his Club House Jr. magazine's from Focus on the Family.

Jon & Kate plus 8

I'm sure most of you know about the TLC show Jon & Kate plus 8. It is a reality show about a family that has twin daughters that I think are 8yrs old and then sextuplets that are 5. I think the children are just so cute and I must admit I love to watch the show. I guess it makes my house of boys seem a little less of a challenge when I watch that show that has 8 kids. There show is all about there lives. They picked out a family pup in one show and in other shows they have there birthday parties. The family goes on vacations and that is always fun to watch them herd all those kids.

If you haven't already heard Jon & Kate just filed for divorce this week and announced it on there show that aired on Monday. I watched the show and it just really saddened me. I had grown to really like that show and you kinda feel like you know them when you watch them very much. So I wasn't to thrilled when they announced that. I was hoping that they were stopping the show to work on there marriage. We all know they have been having trouble for awhile. They say that the show had nothing to do with there getting a divorce, but I'm not so sure of that. What couple do you know that makes there marriage work when on a TV reality show. I don't know of any really most divorce. So most families these days Christan or non-Christan have about a 50% Chance of making there marriage last... then you add on top of that this family that has multiplies which is less than 50% and then add being on TV and all the stress from that on top of that.... That adds up to not a very good chance of making it...

I ask that you don't gossip or point fingers at Jon & Kate but just pray for this family. Pray for this mom and dad during this time that they might turn to God for answers. Pray for these sweet Innocent little kids that are getting caught in the middle of all this... This is a real family that is hurting please take time to pray for them....

Not Good Enough....WHY

Why is it that we think we are not good enough?? Especially young girls. Who told you that you weren't good enough? You feel like your less than perfect and just not good enough. Maybe you have freckles, overweight, scars or maybe you wish you had a different color hair or eyes so you'd be more beautiful like the models in the magazines. Did you ever stop to realize how wonderfully you are made just the way you are? God made you just the way you are because he loves you.

Especially young girls these days are encouraged to grow up to soon and that you must be look like the models on TV. young Girls and women go through great lengths to try to get there bodies prefect, but usually we are un-successful. We get depressed and feel not good enough, but God doesn't want us to live like this.... So, don't worry about your hair color, if you over weight or to skinny, if you have not so perfect skin etc. You were put on this earth by God to make a difference for him just the way you are...

I have gone through all these feelings... After my wreck I realized that God loves me for who I am and has a plan just for me. That I shouldn't worry about the little things I can't change and worry about the bigger more important things I can change. No one is prefect, but in God we can be complete and do Gods will with our lives...

No matter what you are stressing over with your self God loves you & made you who you are. Be proud of who you are and lift your head up high. Don't let society say your not good enough! Take time this week to complement someone that needs it. A small word of encouragement can go a long way.... Check out the song below...

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works... Psalm 139:14

Click to here the song "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz

WHY

These are my random WHY things I think about


WHY is there a sock monster in my dryer? It doesn't eat whole pairs It just eats one of each pair... Weird

WHY does my dog wait until I'm in bed to start playing with her food dish? She flips it around the deck and is quite loud!

WHY does my children ask for gum just to throw it away 60 seconds later?

WHY do they create so many toys that make noise?

WHY in the world do we want another baby?????

WHY did God choose me to be Kyle's wife?

WHY do I worry about all the little things I can't change?

WHY do I lay in bed each night wondering why I am so blessed?

WHY didn't I learn patience when I was younger, so I wouldn't have to be learning it now?

WHY do I eat so healthy all the time??

WHY does Kyle have to snore so LOUD?

WHY do I keep trying to do things with my injured hand that I know I couldn't do yesterday?

WHY do some children not have food and shelter?

WHY do little boys like to climb trees when they know they can't get down?

WHY am I so blessed to have an awesome God, family and friends to share my life with?

Father's Day Pics

I think Kyle has had a great day. This morning we went to church again. We went last night, but since Kyle and I both worked in the children's area we went back today. Right before service we got picked for a contest. They got us up on stage and the wives got to make up the dads with real makeup. I am so not kidding you. So Kyle was up on stage with real make up on this morning at church. He looks so beautiful in eye liner. ;-)

We then went to Fazoli's for lunch and then we went for a treat of ice cream. The boys had a lazy afternoon at home in the cool house playing Wii. We are now grilling some chicken to eat for supper. Happy Father's Day sweetheart. You are a great father....

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

The boys all made Daddy Father's Day cards or pictures. They ran to give them to daddy this morning. We are very blessed to have Kyle in our lives and we love him very much! Happy Father's Day to my Dad and Kyle's dad also.... We are going to heat up the new grill later today and grill some BBQ chicken and we are going to take daddy out for some ice cream sometime today!

Father's Day!

Kyle and his new grill for Father's Day... Look at that grin ;-)

The boys loved the hot dogs... The boys brought out there little table and enjoyed there hot dogs....yummy...

I think Daddy likes his gift!

Kyle finding all his scavenger notes to find his Father's Day gift!


The boys and I went shopping for Kyle yesterday. We got him a charcoal grill. He has been wanting one for a long time. We surprised him pretty good I think. We brought it home and had it in the garage. The boys made a scavenger hunt all over the house and ending with him finding his new grill in the garage. He cooked some burgers and hot dogs and man were they good!!
Happy Father's day Kyle... You are an awesome Daddy to our little men. Thank you for all you do for us & we love you!! And to my precious Daddy... I love you very much...

Jonas painted yesterday morning. Malachi and him were having a blast painting.

Jonas made this last night. It is our family, our house and our vehicles.

Jeremiah just home from his summer program

Malachi was playing Frosty our kitty so cute this morning...

My boys are excited to help me clean....

Yes, you read that right! They are begging to help me vacuum, sweep, clean bathrooms, clean there rooms, help with dishes and more. Want to know why????

Every time they help with a job they get a special fake coin that they can turn in for "plugged in time." Plugged in time means computer, Wii, tv, movies etc. Anything that plugs in. So each coin gets them 15min. of plugged in time. They can use about two a day. This doesn't include like a family movie we might watch. If you want to get your kids excited about helping you around the house try it!

They also get 5 bucks on Mondays. If they break a rule during the week they loose bucks. On Fridays I get out rewards store and they get to use there bucks to buy toys. So you want to have all your bucks! There is 5 baskets with 1-5 marked on them. Each buck is worth $1. so if you have all 5 of your bucks they can get in the $5.basket. Or if you have just one buck you can only get something out of the $1.basket. The best stuff is in the $5. basket.

I find that it works best to have something to help my little monkey use there manners and stick to our rules. Kids need rules!

Jeremiah

Jeremiah started his summer Gifted program this morning. He goes in the mornings for two weeks. He is very excited about this year. He is in the Robotic class. They will get to learn and make robots. It is a really neat program through a local college. This is I believe his 6Th year attending there.

Malachi's poor chin

Malachi fell last night and cut his chin open pretty good. It was after 9pm, so all the urgent cares were closed and the only thing to take him to was the ER. I really hate ER'S and we knew we would have been there half the night, so we went to walmart and I got some butterfly closures. I used them on my hand and knew they would hold pretty good. So we got him fixed up last night and this morning took him to urgent care to get it checked.

The Dr. said we fixed it just perfect. That a Dr couldn't have done it any better and just to leave it on until Friday. Don't get it wet or eat any drippy food this week. He is all bruised under his chin. Poor little guy. He took one swimming lesson and now is scared of water. He hates baths and was fighting me when i was trying to wash his hair. He had some toys up on the side of the tub and hit his chin on it really hard. So here I have Jonas and Malachi in the tub and Malachi is bleeding everywhere and has soap all over him. Got him out and then realized he also bit his tongue pretty good. He is better now and is leaving the butterfly closures on good so far.

Mini Golf

Jeremiah and I played Mini golf this morning. He beat me pretty bad. We had a lot of fun...

Friday

Malachi and Jonas are going to Mother's Day out. Last week was there first day and they loved it. They are in different classes, but get recess together. When I came to pick them up last Friday I found them playing together on the playground. I thought that was cute...

Jeremiah and I are going to play mini golf and go look at some bikes/helmets. He is bigger than his bike and needs a new one. We are going to get jwd a new bike and then passes the other bikes and helmets down so everyone has one there size this summer.

We sold our older van last night, so we are back to 2 vehicles. The boys are glad because they have more room to ride there bikes in our drive way.

Mops day at the park and another mishap with me and vehicles

My Mops group had a play date at the park this morning and we all had fun. They boys enjoyed playing with the other kids and I enjoyed chatting with the other moms. The day turned out ok, but got off to a rough start. All started when I was getting something out of Malachi's closet. I was standing on a chair and turned around and just fell off... I fell on Malachi's toy tractor and scraped myself up. The tractor had no damage! Kyle just looked at me like can you stop getting hurt! Then on the way to the park this morning I was stopped at a stop light and a young girl came up fast behind me and rear-ended my new van. I was not very happy, but so relieved there was no damage. I was very surprised there was no dint. She said she looked down and didn't see that the line of cars has stopped. Poor Jonas was scared. He was just sitting there with his eyes big like bracing himself for some rolls. I said oh Jonas that was it we are fine and we are not going to roll. He was scared. I was shook up and just annoyed that she had to hit me right when I had stopped looking over my shoulder all the time. I was very nervous the rest of the day when driving and thought I might get stopped for going to slow. ;-) Anyway, all is fine in our house tonight, but Kyle thinks danger follows me around.. I'd be happy if danger would leave me alone...

I was looking back at pictures from last summer and came across these. Doesn't my hubby look so handsome! He looks really happy on his pastor ordination day doesn't he. Kyle is an awesome speaker. Love ya sweets... It's been a rough year, but we made it!! Your going to do great things....

Update and Prayer Request- Becky Derby

Thank you all for praying -Becky is doing great and recovering well. She is up and down w/ little help. Amazing!Anyway, we find ourselves needing a little more prayer - new request. We flew here with Angel Corp. They specialize in finding corp. flights for Cancer patients to go to their destinations. That is how we got here. Well now we are needing a flight to get us back to Oklahoma. As of this point in time, there are no flights. We are asking people to pray for a flight early next week, otherwise, we are at the mercy of the airline. The stress of flying would be less if we got on a corp. flight and not commercial - especially for someone who, well has an incision from hip to hip. We have seen how God answers the prayers of His people, so once again, we are seeking more prayer. Thanks - we are going to wait to book a flight until tomorrow afternoon - so we are praying God opens a door b/t now and tomorrow morning!Thank again Micah

TWISTER!!

We played twister last night. I took on Jonas and Kyle took on Jeremiah. We got all tangled up and it was a blast.

SILVER DOLLAR CITY!

We went to SDC yesterday and had a blast all day. We were there about 6hrs. We went to a Veggie tales show. We all loved the show and they did a great job. Defiantly go see it when you go. The boys road a lot of the kid rides. Malachi was big enough to ride alot more this time and Jonas was big enough to ride some without an adult. Jeremiah is almost big enough to take them on with out us. He is getting so big. We had some apple turn overs with apple butter. They are so yummy and Kyle loves them. I usually have a bowl of strawberries, but everything was so high. All we actually got to eat was apple turn overs. There prices are horrible this year... It was the kids feast so there was tons of activities for them kids.

We really enjoyed our day. Jonas was excited to celebrate his 1year with Jesus in his heart. Also, was a year since our crash. It was a very special day...

The longest Year of my life...

It is a year today since our wreck. I still remember that night so vividly and fight tears when I talk or write about it! I don't think I will ever forget those noises of metal crushing, glass shattering and my boys screaming, "Mommy help me." It was truly a terrifying night for me and the boys. It has been an overwhelming roller coast ride this past year. I had 10 months of hand therapy, 4months of back/neck therapy, 3 hand surgeries, & diagnosed with Complex Regional pain syndrome. My recent MRI showed I already have bone loss in my injured hand because of CRPS. It has been such an emotional draining year. I continue to wear a splint on my hand to protect it and also to help the wrist heal back down where it is pulling up. Also have fluid in my wrist around the tendons and it helps with that pain. I continue to do therapy on my hand at home. It has arthritis in it also. It does hurt some, but taking some natural supplements has really helped with pain.


From the beginning God was there with us protecting us. It could have been so much worse that night. Through it all God was there with me Reassuring me it's ok I know what is best for you. We don't always understand why things happen to us, but God is there to help us through it.


I can look at my hand and my scars and feel sorry for myself every day or I can look at my scars and let it remind me "How Good God Really Is." Going though tough times gives us character and strength to face what lies ahead for us. I am a lot stronger because of this past year and our family is much stronger also. There is something really cool about June 7Th 2008. Jonas put Jesus in his heart that morning of the accident. Jonas says to this day that, "Jesus was in my heart that night and kept me safe." Out of the mouth of babes. So, today on June 7tTh 2009 we are going to celebrate. We are celebrating Jonas' 1year with Jesus in his heart and Happy to be alive day! ;-)


One thing I plan to do is fight for Railing on the outside of bridges. If anyone has a say or can get them to listen maybe I can. If there had been railing there like in the center of the bridge I would have hit that and just messed up the side of my vehicle and never rolled it. I think there should be railings at every bridge on both sides so, this kind of accident doesn't happen again.


Thank you so much for all of your support, prayers, cards, emails and food this past year for me and My family. We have appreciated them all so much. So I am actually looking forward to tomorrow and getting to spend the day with my wonderful hubby and my awesome 3 boys. We are off to SDC tomorrow for a day of fun... A huge thank you to my dear sweet hubby who has been there with me to help me along the way all year. He has done so much and I love you sweetheart very much! I also, have the 3 best little helpers around. ;-) They help me carry groceries, make meals and tons of other stuff. I am very blessed with my 4 handsome boys in my life. What more could a girl want... I am very blessed!

...We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

If you want to read more about what happened June 7th 2008 click here.

Below is pictures and videos from "The Longest Year Of My Life." Click to watch it.

Fun and the Zoo!

We enjoyed a fun afternoon at the zoo today.

Pictures of our day at Roaring Rivers State park

Boys feeding fish

Standing in the rain watch the water fire show at Branson Landing

Malachi at Branson landing. He was loving walking in all the puddles.

Kyle is on vacation this week and yesterday we had a blast at the park. We had planned to have a picnic at the park, but the boys got hungry. We stopped and at on the way there. We looked at the fish hatchery and feed the fish. The boys were so excited when the guys showed up to feed the fish. The man let the boys each throw a cup of food to them. They loved that... They said, wow we got to throw alot of free food to the fish. ;-) We played on there playground until the rain moved in. We then headed out and went to branson. We ate supper at Subway and then we went to the Branson Landing. It started pouring while we were in there. We went from store to store running in the rain. WHAT FUN.. Actually it was fun... The boys giggled alot... We stood in the rain and watched the water Fire show. It poured the entire time we were in there, but we had fun.