Heart for Home

More Baseball

2011-04-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to learn how to use manual focus! My pics are getting so much clearer! Here are more of my baby boy in action!

Baseball 2011 The Willies

2011-04-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

So wipe off the dust and lets get back to blogging.....again! Baseball season is in full swing. Lets say with Rylan playing select arena football for Jim Ned (pictures coming soon) it was hard for me to get ready for baseball. I love it and all but my whole life is in a whirl wind and it snuck up on me!
Here are a few pics from tonights game. Rylan pitched as you can see and did a darn good job at it! He is playing in the Majors again this year for The Willies. It is amazing how he has grown in this sport!
It was so exciting to see him and the team hitting tonight! Excitement was in the air! How I love seeing Rylan become a leader of his team. He has been encouraging others and leading in talking to his teammates. I love this precious boy God has given us!
Oh my Lordeeeeee, I would have downloaded more pics, but my computer was sooo slow!!!!!

Suffering

2010-01-07T05:22:00.001-08:00

I wanted to blogg what I read in my BSF notes that amazingly hit home and it may with some of you others out there. Read Job 1-2. Job's suffering lay in the invisible world. Job's suffering was for the glory of God and the strengthening of Job's own faith.
John 9: Unlike the disciples, Jesus was not as concerned with what caused the suffering as with how to relieve it and how this very sufering may be used to reveal the glory of God's love and power more fully. What a lesson for me! Many times God allows suffering in ur lives in order to awaken our spirits. (See 1 Corinthians 11:30) Also God might today heal many diseases and deliver us from much suffering if we would only definitely come to Him in prayer and faith. (James 5:15-16)
Suffering sometimes allowed so that a special work of God shall be revealed to the world through the suffering.
Believer receives infinite assurance of God's concern for sufferers in that Jesus Christ, God the Son, suffered unspeakably in greater depth than any human has ever experienced.
When a person suffers yet has the courage to endure without murmuring against God, the strength of faith in God manifests a particular glory of God that many of us know nothing about.!!! Wow, I want to endure and trust in my suffering! I don't want to Grumble any more but believe and TRUST!

I am counting on God!

2010-01-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, BSF was amazing today. God speaks right through the speaker each Wed morning right to my heart. That is because The Truth is spoken there! The truth is that we as Christians have to go through suffering as well as all the good things that the Lord blesses us with. It is in the suffering that he wants us to draw nearer to him. He doesn't want you to grumble and complain but to trust in Him that you are in that situation to grow, to be disciplined, to love Him more.
We are so desperate to know the how and why's of our sufferings. I am not talking of the daily sufferings but the times when you don't know where to turn, why God would put you in this situation, and the times you just don't know if you can bear one more day of your situation. WE want to know WHY..WHY...WHY.. We want to search scriptures of how to exactly get healing, pray the right prayer. We want the mechanics... a method...not WHO. I want to focus on the who no matter the situation I am going through. I am going to stop complaining, and get on my knees and give Him thanks for my sufferings and know that it is a privledge to be going through them. Through them, he gives me endurance. Suffering is necessary to strengthen my dependance on God himself. I want to worship God for who he is and not for what he can do in my life.

2009 Football Season is upon us

2009-08-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Football season is fresh upon us. I love going to Rylan's practices. The girls get to play with friends on the playground, I get to catch up with all the other football mom's and watch my baby grow in his abilities. I am still nervous about Ry playing tackle. If it were up to me the boy would still be in flag but Rylan and his dad love it so. This is Rylan's first year in Jr. Pee Wee. It is his third year in pads and tackle and his fifth year to play. Jr. Pee Wee is much more intense and much more for the boys to learn to play. This year the coach will not be on the field to help call plays and tell the boys what they are supposed to do in each play. The quarterback is the lead once on the field. He had to know for himself what he is doing but also all the other players on the team. I love getting to travel to other towns, building the homecoming float, watching Rylan learn the fun in winning and the upset in losing. (We lost to the Hawley Bearcats in the Superbowl last year.) I think it is important for him to learn the feeling of losing. I am excited for this season. We will have our games at 2 p.m. in the middle of the heat and nap time but I still can't wait!

Ice Cream Pop's Birthday

2009-07-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

These are the ingredients for the recipe I got from Sharla which I think came from her mom. I have my grannies ice cream maker that I have sweet memories of having ice cream on hot summer nights at their ranch in Mingus, Texas. I remember my grandpa having a taste to make sure it was just right and then letting us try it to tell him what we thought. I remember the loud noise of the maker going while we talked and waited for it to get done. I was just going to make the ice cream by myself, that would have been much easier and cleaner, but the blessing I got from letting the girls help was priceless. I got to share with them how to clean as we go, let them both experience breaking an egg and explaining we didn't want any shells in the mix. I got to let them pour, stir, and watch their faces with excitement and grossness and hear them giggle. Such a little task to endure to receive the blessing and memories my girls gave me. I hope later they will remember these days.
We made the ice cream at home before we went to Sharla's for dinner. Rylan was at her house helping her fix chicken fried steak (my favorite), mash potatoes, ranch cucumbers, fried okra and hot rolls. They had the table set all nicely when we arrived. Russ worked later than usual but we waited for him and got to eat by 7 p.m. Then Nanaw came over for Choc. Cake that Ry and Shar made and homemade ice cream.

Avery Cracking an Egg.

Micah stirring all the ingredients. They were kinda grossed out by the look of the eggs breaking up.

Wait for it.....

How a song brings back memories!

2009-07-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

This first song from Jason Aldean is the girls FAVORITE song right now. We would crank the music up at the travel trailor every time it came on the radio.

The second song is a song that came out from Reba when Rylan was just a toddler. I sang it to him before the girls came when I tucked him into bed and I still remember the first time he started singing it back to me. (It makes me tear up) I now sing it to the girls and I can also remember when they started singing it back to me. I remember thinking when the song came out how much I loved it and that if my children ever heard it on the radio, it would give them a memory of me.

Our Firework Stand 09

2009-07-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

So this is what it looks like at first.

I hired these boys to be my stock boys!

Ravioli at Rachael's

2009-07-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

These were so messy but so fun to watch the kids eat!

Avery

Micah

Ry-Fry

Raelynn

More Fun with Roper

2009-07-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

Roper wanting in on the action

2009-07-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

This is Rylan's 7 month old Lab, Roper. He really wanted in the pool.

He then got thirsty and moved on to the slip-n-slide.

Rylan thought is was so fun, playing with Roper. Roper enjoyed it too.

Ry-Fry and his Raelynn

2009-07-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

The girls had to try out the slip-n-slide. Here is Ry helping out Raelynn, he loves her so. I think she held her breath the whole way down.

Rylan and his slip-n-slide

2009-07-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Swimmin Time

2009-07-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

All four grankids were in the pool and it got a little too small so gammy got the girls these floating rings and Rylan a slippin side. Rylan ended up in the pool with the girls and the girls ended up trying out the slippin slide.

Raelynn

Micah trying her new tube.

Floatin along

Ugh, that wasn't supposed to happen.

Swimming at Gammy's

2009-07-02T20:40:00.000-07:00

Gammy is so creative. She made the kids a pool out of a water trough (or however you spell it). The kids absolutely love it! It is just the right size.

Avery on Left Micah on right

Here, I'll get your pony out Micah.

Micah helping Avery get all the rings around her.

Just a Swingin

2009-07-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

There is always fun to be had at Gammy's. My kiddos LOVE their cousin Raelynn. She is so cute and hilarious!

Rylan playing "frogger" between the girls swingin.

Avery

Micah

Raelynn

Rylan church camp 09

2009-07-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Rylan trying to sneak up on a peacock at the park we stopped at for lunch.

Camp Bonita 2009

2009-07-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

New Mexico, June

Our Church Camp is in Ruidso. The camp grounds had their 70th year anniversary this year. This was mine and Rylans second year. Rylan and I were so blessed this year again. He got paired up with two awesome country boy counselors and Landon our Family Pastors son which he looks up to so much! I met wonderful ladies and I think will have lasting friendships with those ladies. I loved all the girls that were in our cabin. They performed songs and shows for us their counselors! They were all so thoughtful and fun. I had a hard time not getting to see Rylan as much this year. Some days I would only get to see him for about 5 minutes! I saw many children prayed over, came to the Lord, and witnessed strength through some of the girls stories. Bonding with our group started from day one with our group of counselors and girls! I had such a good time!

Rylan and I after lunch one day.

Keeping busy on the bus. Not sure he was texting but he knows electronics way better than me!

Watching a movie on the 8 hr bus ride!

Busy trying to find out how to do a yarn flower that one of the girls on the bus had that he made friends with.

At home

2009-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know I don't have any pictures up of Disney World yet, but I was on Facebook and the girls were supposed to be cleaning their room. We got early baths tonight because we are worn out from being at Rylan's camps from 9 - 4. So they come running into my room with these housecoats on (courtesy of Aunt Kathy). I have tried many a times for them to wear them in the winter, at Christmas but NOOOuuuuuohhh, they wait until a 90 degree day before they wear these fleece housecoats! HMMM.. I wonder if it is because I keep it at 60 degrees?!?!?!

They were saying, Get Winnie in the picture!!

Walt Disney World-Fireworks

2009-06-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

The night of seeing the fireworks the first night at Magic Kingdom I asked the kids what their favorite thing was so far and they said "the firework show". We went back the next day to Magic Kingdom cause we didn't see all of it the first day because it was sooooo very crowded, and the girls saw the princess' and now that is their favorite part of the trip. Here are a few pics of the fireworks I caught.

Here is a shot with the castle in different colors. It was awesome at night time. It changed from pink, green, red, blue colors during the night. The first night at Magic Kingdom we got right behind a tree that kinda blocked our view. The next day we went back to Magic Kingdome and stayed for the fireworks again and got an awesome view and was treated to a visitor! TINKERBELL! She flew out of the castle down the side of main street! What a treat!

I had to throw this shot in! This was our second night at Magic Kingdom and Russ found this empty wheelchair to sit in! We were so exhausted and had Animal Kingdom to go to the next day

Good to be home!

2009-06-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

We got back from Florida last night or should I say this morning about 1 a.m. I will post pics as soon as possible. I am going to try to put laundry first before blogging or facebooking! Had a blast but am so exhausted! Always good to get away but I am so glad we are back home!

A Time Well Had

2009-05-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Micah, Raelynn, Avery

Micah (4), Raelynn (2), Avery(4), Mia (1), Anna (4)

Hey girls, wait 4 me!

Pooped out!

2009-05-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

I laughed hysterically when I saw this shot!
Gammy and Gandmommy after a day with the girls!!!

Going tot the Park with Gammy

2009-05-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

This day Gammy was watching Raelynn and she invited the girls to go to the park to feed the ducks. Lou Lou, Anna and Mia were going to meet them there for a girls day out.

(I just love these Gymboree outfits! We had just unwrapped them from receiving them in the mail. I got them off of Ebay. I got about 8 outfits all in from the Strawberry Farm line. I got them for the girls to start school in. They are not the exact matching outfits but they are growing up and won't even be in the same class when they start Pre-K so I figured coordinating outfits would look nice and probably help the teachers out!)

Avery on the left. Micah on the right.
I had to tell them Gammy and Lou Lou loves braids or they would not have let me braid their hair. They are so particular about the way they want their hair. Most of the time they want it down.
I'm glad they know what they like but sometimes it drives me a little crazy when I have an idea in mind and they have the total opposite idea for their hair. I try now to explain for different outfits there are different hairstyles that match. It works sometimes!

Strike Out

2009-05-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we just can't hit! It breaks my heart when Ry strikes out cause I know how bad he wants to hit the ball and he gets disappointed in himself.

Good Job

2009-05-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

HE SCORES!

2009-05-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Del throws the pitch.

Batter hits it and Rylan watches to see where it goes.

He makes it in.

Trying to Steal home

2009-05-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Going for it!

Going for it again!

Not Yet!

Up to Bat - Rylan Holloway

2009-05-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

Outlaw's Last game before County Tourn

2009-05-24T20:39:00.001-07:00

Here is Rylan and the team waiting to take the field to warm up. This is his second game as an official Outlaw.

Warming Up.

Fun together.

2009-05-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

I got home from taking pictures of belt buckles for Pop's and I heard the kids giggling in Rylan's room. I snuck in there and when I saw what Rylan built, I ran and got the camera. It is a school night but they asked if the girls could sleep in the "tent". I insisted they had one chance to be quiet cause bubba had school tomorrow. I never heard a peep out of them.

Rylan, Micah, Avery

Bedtime Prayers

2009-05-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet.

Avery likes to move her hands and keep her eyes open while she prays. She was saying her prayers by herself tonight.

Micah with her friend Gammy just gave to her tonight listening to her sister pray.

Can you find Gammy?

2009-05-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Boy if one girl gets in Gammy's lap they all come running. Heaven forbid she pay attention to just one of them!

Here's their "silly" eyes!

Avery's Turn

2009-05-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

The girls are wearing pop's Taylor Electric shirts after playing in the rain. Gammy ties them in the back and rubber bands them so they don't fall off. They call them their dresses.

Avery going up the pole.

I made it to the top!

Micah Shimee-ing the Pole

2009-05-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

My girls are little monkeys! They love to climb!
ANYTHING!!!

Gammy and Pops have these poles inside their carport and since the girls were little, daddy started them out by hanging on the poles at the top and then we went to pole climbing to the top. When you get to the top, you have to "touch the top" daddy would say! Now they don't need dad to lift them up there anymore! They shimmee on up all by themselves!

Check out the feet curling around the pole!

I made it! Again check out the toes!

Raelynn' s Turn

2009-05-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

I do it! She wants to shimmee the pole too! Uncle Russ helps her "Up there"

Touch the top!

When she gets to the top she looks down and waves and says "Hi Girls"

Ry-Fry and his best friend

2009-05-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

This is Roper. He was Rylan's Christmas present after he lost his black lab Queenie due to getting hit by a car at night. Rylan was so upset and just cried when he heard the news. Roper is now 6 months old and is a golden lab. Rylan had to name him with a name starting with an R because Pop's (Rusty), Daddy (Russ), Uncle Ray, Rowdy (Rylan's cousin) and his name all started with an R so his dog's name had to start with an R just like all the other men in the family! He is a beautiful and obedient dog. He learned early to sit and gets better at the command every day. He loves the kids and especially Rylan. He can fetch pretty good also. Rylan is working with him on a fisbee. We saw a choc. lab and his owner playing frisbee together on Mother's Day at the park and after that Rylan just had to teach Roper.

Here Roper is licking Rylan after he fell off his Razor. Are you ok? he is saying to Rylan

How a friendship can grow between a boy and his dog.

More Playing in the Rain

2009-05-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here is Ry-Fry getting in the action!

I'm a SUPER-HERO!

Thank you God for the Rain

2009-05-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

What a nice treat! The kids loved playing in the rain!

Micah

Stunt Man!

2009-05-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Gammy is so sweet to give time to each grandchild. Here is a couple of shots of just her and Ry-Fry shooting hoops. Rylan is doing a layup with a trick. He gets to the basket and does a backwards shot. And he made it three times while I was watching!

Razor not just for boys!

2009-05-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

Not only does Rylan love his razor but so do the girls! Avery can ride it almost as fast as Rylan. Micah not so much! Here is Avery gettin it!

And then it is Raelynn's turn!

Oh! Oh!

But Daddy says Cowgirls don't CRY!!!

Finally Micah's turn

2009-05-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

Micah is informing Raelynn it is her turn to ride and Raelynn is not giving in and saying it is my turn!

Finally Micah gets a turn!

But she doesn't ride for long!

Just a swingin!

2009-05-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

My girls also love to swing! I got a couple of shots before we had to put the swing up due to there only being one and it caused way too much whining and fighting! I only got one shot of Mrs. Micah before we put it up.

Micah

Avery is just as daring as her big brother!

Love the joy on her face!

Yes she is hanging upside down!

Ry-Fry

2009-05-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Rylan and his Razor. He loves to ride his razor at Gammy's on her cocrete drive. Sometimes he gets to going to fast and busts! I am so afraid he is going to break his arm!!!

Mr. Blue Eyes!

Rylan is nine years old and he still loves to swing! He has loved it since he was an infant!

Sandbox

2009-05-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

The kids love playing in the sandbox!

Avery

Micah

I couldn'g get them to look at me for a pic! They were way too excited to be playing in the sandbox!
(Girls 4 Raelynn 2)

Sunday's At Gammy and Pop's

2009-05-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

On a lot of Sunday's we have ended up at Gammy and Pop's house to cook out! I love Sunday's with everyone getting together. I know my children are building memories with getting to play with Raelynn, (and Gammy) and just being around all the family!

Pop's and his grill he built.

HMMM! Just about perfect!

Independence

2009-05-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is Avery opening the car door. They have known how to do this for a couple of months now. How did she learn to use the tire to push off of? Man when you want to do something, you just figure it out! Mrs. Independant!!! The girls have almost accomplished buckling their seatbelt!!!

Sweetness

2009-05-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

I barely got these pics but it melts my heart! Rylan can be so SWEET! He loaded this chair up for grandad all on his own!

Outlaws

2009-05-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Rylan has now been drafted to the Outlaws team in Minors Little League. He has played for their team I think 4 games now. This night was the night he officially became an outlaw. He plays first base with the outlaws and has since the first game he played with them. He might get to try pitching with them but it is a little further from the plate in Minors than in farm league but he has been practicing. The good part is he gets to play at county tournament but the sad thing is he won't get to play his last two make up games with hit team the Mighty Mites. We are so proud of how good he has done! Just to see the excitement and knowledge of the game on his face and in his reactions makes a parent proud.

Mrs. Palmer and her family came to watch Ry play and she called him Mr. Blue socks. (I didn't realize he was getting a team shirt this night or I would have gone by academy) But Gammy and I liked the blue socks cause we could tell who he was!)

Time for Walt Disney World!

2009-05-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is just the kids clothing! Oh and there airplane bags that I am going to fill with surprises such as new colors, coloring books, drawing books for Ry, snacks and so on. We leave next Wed.night to stay in Dallas cause our flight leaves at 7:30 a.m. on Thurs. I will post pics from there as soon as I can! We are all so excited! We (my aunt, her three girls, my sister, her husband and two boys and then us five)have been planning this trip for two years! I had to get a calendar out for the kids and do a Disney World Florida count down!

We watched the Bachelorette the night before and I guess this is where the girls got these breakdance moves! It was hilarious, we were tryin on clothes one minute and then start bringing out the moves! (on the bachelorette there was a guy that did breakdancing)

Water Time

2009-05-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

My kids love the water. They absolutely love jumping on the trampoline with the water turned on. So that they don't ask me every day, I told Rylan it has to be 90 degrees or hotter outside to be able to play in the water. So he now knows to look at the thermometer in the car when he gets in from school to see how hot it is.

Micah in front. We don't need a swimsuit to play in the water, we will strip down to our panties!

Notice the hose tied up by a rope. Bubba did this! Rylan had already gotten off by the time I got to take these pics

Happiness

2009-05-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Love is spelled T-I-M-E.
Can't you see the excitement in the kids faces? I think it was just Micah on the trampoline when Russ jumped on. Then like swarming bees the other two jumped on to join in the fun.

My Son

2009-05-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post this one. My son. He wants to climb everything. If you look away for a second he is gone. I looked up and he was already by this bird yelling at me to take a picture.

After the Recital

2009-05-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

I realize I havn't posted any recital pics of the girls back stage but I'm kinda going out of order those are to come. Here are some of us as a family after the show. Pops, Gammy, Grandad, Nanaw, Papa and Judy also attended we just didn't get a picture.

If you double click on this picture to enlarge it, you can really see how blue Rylan's eyes are.

Fans at the girls dance recital

2009-05-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

So I didn't get to capture everyone but here are some adorable shots of my sister (Aunt Ta Ta) and the kiddos cousin Jaxson.

This next picture is hilarious. Jaxson running when we yelled it was time to go.

AHHH

2009-05-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Rylan is playing first base here. It is so good to see him getting into the games even more these days and cheering his teamates on and telling them good job or good try.

Friends

2009-05-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here is what the girlees do during game time! Time to play with friends! This night they were all contained in Pop's pickup! They love Deija and Jaxon. Deija is the little girl to a good friend of mine and Jaxon is the cutest little guy ever the girls went to school with this year. They love playing with the both of them. It is funning the girls little dresses read shhh. I'm hunting a cowboy and then Mr. Cowboy himself comes riding up on a four wheeler with his daddy. (His daddy said jokingly "just call me later don't shoot him!")

Here are two fans that are at pretty much every ball game!

Last game with the Mighty Mites

2009-05-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is Rylan with his Mighty Mites team in Farm League.

Up Close

2009-05-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

He even drew all the faces!

Mr. Worm

Mr. Scorpion

Mr. Mouse

Mrs. Poodle

My Creative Son

2009-05-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Rylan ordered this book from Scholastic to learn how to make baloon animals. Here he is with his first animals! Mr. Worm, Mr. Scorpion, Mr.Mouse, and Mrs. Poodle. (I hope to have a real poodle one day but it will definetly have to be the right timing.

Then Avery wanted to start posing for pics.

And then this happens! We go from smiles to wines in about three seconds most days!!!

Share Day at BSF

2009-05-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a blessing share day was today! It is so good to hear other ladies testimonies of how God is working in others lives! As one lady put it, we are all in the same boat just looking out different windows of that boat. We are all children of God but we all have different areas in our lives that we are having to trust and obey in different circumstances in our own lives.

Focus Forward. Don't dwell on the past. Once you have repented it is gone and never to be seen or heard from again from God. So Focus Forward.

Be a servant. Truly Surrender. Break the chains and you will be set free. He will help you with being a control freak, a better housekeeper, to rise early, to get back in the word again daily, to heal you physically, to take you places you never dreamed, to answer a calling only he can have for you, to talk to your children differently in car rides, help your children learn what it is to be face down on your knees at two and three years old, to release rebellion that has been in your life since you were little. All these amazing things in different peoples lives, God helped all of these things happen. BSF was a tool, an in-depth study that we all found God helping us. There were many principals for my life that I learned. I was so moved and blessed to have been a part of yesterday and the whole year at BSF.

Handful of Weeds

2009-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

You may or may not know I am the spiritual leader in my home. I am no doubt good at this! I am human. One day I know that I will not be leading that role in my life because I have faith that Russ will be in that role one day in God's timing. This is very hard for me to accept on some days. I want to have my pity party and say why me but this song "Handful of weeds" reminds me of the future when I hope my children can sing this song and truly think this about me. I am not perfect, I yell, I want alone time, my house is never kept up but all in all the only important thing I want for my kiddos is for them to know the love of our Heavenly Savior! And even though I sin every stinkin day and they see this in me, I can teach them through my days of stumbling as a parent! When I yell, I can ask them for forgiveness and then tell them, I am going to have to ask forgiveness from my father. I hope that they won't hold my sin against me but see the grace and forgiveness that our father give to us when only we ask and it happens faster than a snap of your fingers. Thank you Father!

By Intouch Ministries

2009-05-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

This was a blessing to me today! I hope it will encourage you today! What an amazing, powerful, ridiculously out of our league God that we have! He is so much bigger than we are!

The 30 Life Principles

1.Our intimacy with God – His highest priority for our lives – determines the impact of our lives.
2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
3. God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.
4. The awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work.
5. God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.
6. You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.
7. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish
His purpose in us.
8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.
9. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.
10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will.
11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.
12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.
13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God.
14. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.
16. Whatever you acquire outside of God’s will eventually turns to ashes.
17. We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.
18. As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.
19. Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose.
20. Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice.
21. Obedience always brings blessing.
22. To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit.
23. You can never out give God.
24. To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us.
25. God blesses us so that we might bless others.
26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.
27. Prayer is life’s greatest time saver.
28. No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.
29. We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops.
30. An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively.

School Days

2009-05-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pics of Rylan when I picked him up from school! 4th grade next year, that puts a glu in my throat!
you can click on any of the photos to enlarge them

Recital This Sunday

2009-05-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Avery on the Left Micah on the right. I just love these outfits! This makes it all worth the money and they really do like going to class. I think we may try gymnastics next year! They are two little monkeys just like bubba!

One of Rylan's Last

2009-05-11T22:37:00.001-07:00

Rylan and I read this book named Let me hold you longer by Karen Kingsbury. If you have a son, mom you have got to get this book. I havn't read it not once without crying. In fact we take bets to see if I can make it without crying! The book talks about remembering the last time your son sleeps with his raged old bear, the last time you have to rock him, his last midday nap, your last bat a little league, the last time you help him with a spelling test and on and on....For come some bright fall morning you'll be going far away. College life beckons in a brillant sort of way. One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick hurried kiss. One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed. I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed. Let me hold on longer God to every precious last. (See told you it is tear jerking)

So the other day, I am packing a lunch for Rylan's fieldtrip. I had one last brown bag with spiderman on it. Thinking I would surprise himby filling this bag with his lunch, I got it all neatly packed. When I handed him his lunch with a proud grin, he replied, Gol mom, this is for babies! Well I knew I was in a moment of one of Rylan's lasts and it just made my eyes whell up with huge crocodile tears! I just had to latch onto him and give him a big ol hug.

Micah being silly.

2009-05-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

She was just plain tired of being photographed!

Picking Rylan up from school

2009-05-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

I just don't want to forget my childrens lasts. We always remember when they walk, loose a tooth, first haircut but do we always remember the last time they ever did a certain thing? I want to remember the small things in our day to day life. These are the last days of me and the girls waiting for bubba to come running to the car from his day at school! Sometimes we just barely get out the door in time to get him from the girls sleeping until the very last minute so they won't be grumpy! Here is a glimpse of what they sometimes look like.

Time out away from home

2009-05-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it takes more than one time!

He Hit It!

2009-05-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

I got this pic of Rylan last night filling in for someone on the Outlaws team. He hit the ball both times he was up to bat but they went right to the pitcher and he got out at first! We were so proud of him for hitting! At last Sat. nights game when he was a pull player he caught a pop fly right between 1st and 3rd!

I could have never gotten a pic of this with my old camera. Do you see the ball right at the bat? A little high but hey, he hit!!!

My Mother's Day Gift!

2009-05-11T08:05:00.001-07:00

Russ gave me a new camera that I have been wanting for over two years now as my gift! I am so excited. Here are some pictures that I snapped yesterday! I love my new gift! Thanks Babe! I hope to get better at taking pics before Walt Disney World!!!

Goodbye's are never fun

2009-05-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

More Pics at Gammy's

2009-05-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

Raelynn 2 yrs

Avery - almost 5

Micah - almost 5

Rylan - 9 today - he always has a cute face for me! That's Rylan

Raelynn Spending the night

2009-05-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

We got to have my niece over for a night on Friday for the first time and we had a blast! As you can see the girls were playing in the dryer! No they never turned it on! Raelynn brings such joy and smiles to us all!

2009-05-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is a picture Avery took of me and Rylan. It is his birthday and my Mother's Day. He wasn't born on Mothers Day but every so often his birthday falls on this day. In the picture you can't really see the earrings he bought me. We went to the Western Heritage Rodeo on Friday night. He and I went down to the little booths set up below and were looking around. We were browsing the earrings and I was getting his likes and dislikes for me and then I went on to something else. He came up to me and said mom come back here and look at these earrings. He pulled up this one pair and asked if I liked them and I kindly said these aren't really my style but I love this pair and this pair. Then realizing what he was doing, I started showing him the ones I liked that were under $10. You see I gave him a ten dollar bill before we left for him to use for food or whatever. He was using his money for me! It melted my heart! So I went around the booth and he stayed with me a bit as I was getting his input on some rings then he wondered off. He went and got the earrings and purchased them and kept them hidden from me the whole night. While we were going through the booths, he was trying to figure out how to hide them from me and he finally put them down his shirt. First thing on Sunday morning he brought them to me! He didn't wait until half the day was gone and finally remember them, he remembered from the start and I wore them proudly all day! He is becoming such a little man! He is so kind and tender hearted!

Just a few more!

2009-05-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Avery cracking seeds

2009-05-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Avery and Micah are both so proud they can now get the seed out. I havn't let them eat seeds in awhile cause they would eat the shell and all! UGH! Just this week at one of Rylan's games they discovered just how it is done.

Taking a break for snacks

2009-05-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a neat picture. Even though they aren't paying attention to each other they are eating at the same pace.

My Ry-Fry with a grape drink and funjuns (or however you spell it)

Micah tring to crack a sunflower seed.

More Mothers Day

2009-05-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Micah striking a pose. She is all into taking pictures out but gets irritated at me after a bit!

Isn't this tree amazing? The girls called it their chair.

Mothers Day Evening

2009-05-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

I love this picture with their little shoes, watter bottle, capri sun and the bread for the ducks! Me and the kids went to the area by the zoo and the girls fed the ducks and Rylan got to fish. He has asked me thirty times a day this week if we could go fishing! Russ felt really sick right before we left so he stayed home in bed. We missed him! It was such a peaceful evening after such a cool start to the day! What a way to end out a perfect day!

Baiting the hook. Rylan was so excited! He got out to the water before me and the girls. He took charge and got his pole ready. (I am secretly glad he didn't catch anything! I wouldn't have been able to get the fish off but he assured me he knew how to do it even though he has never taken one off of a hook that I can recall!)

Reeling it in. I love his face! He loved reeling in and just throwing it back into the water. Over and over he did this!

Avery likes to pose!

Looking Back

2009-05-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures that my good friend Sandee took for me back in 2007 at one of Rylan's muttin bustins in Merkel. My girls love the dirt! They are not afraid to get dirty nor do they mind getting their sister dirty! Oh how I miss their chubby little faces!

I have my computer back!

2009-02-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

Oh my! I have not had my computer since the first of December! I will try to get some pics posted for you all! I have felt apart from the computer world but at the same time it has been a blessing. I don't spend hours on my ebay store, facebook, email or any other site! Now here I am typing at 11:43 p.m. on my first night of having it! I will probably be a little grumpy tomorrow, but it is my own fault! So my goal: to not spend so much time on the computer that it takes away from my family and sleep because of course if Momma don't get sleep, the whole family suffers and how can I be making my home a haven if I am starting the day off so short tempered! Another goal: to start the day off well rested and in the word of my Heavenly Father. You know watching the news lately and listening on the radio, I hear God talked about often. In this world people have been making up their own "God" but I am here to tell you all, I believe in God the Father who sent his son who was without sin to live in a sinful world and to die for all of our sin. That is my God! In my walk to love and know HIM more, may I lovingly lead many to know THE ONE God that I know and love!

I told you - Alike but not

2008-12-01T07:33:00.000-08:00

I had posted in a previous post that the girls were alike but not, here is another picture of two totally different personalities! Avery is on the left. Micah on the right.

More pictures of us

2008-12-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

Me and Avery

Russ and I

He is 33 I am 30 years of age

Rylan - 8 Avery - 4 Micah - 4

Ry Fry, Me and my husband of 9 years

Pictures of us @ Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

Sittin cross legged on the hood of a ford. This is my grandpa's truck that he used to haul cattle in. Dad took off the sides and it now has a flatbed on it. Oh the memories of this blue ford!

Rylan, Avery, Micah in front

Russ, Me, Avery, Micah, and Ry in back

Me and Micah

Alike but Not

2008-11-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

Yep, this is how it is sometimes. One is frowning while the other is smiling! When they are both giggling at the same time and I can hear it from the other room it just warms my heart. Now on the flip side of that it does seem to happen pretty often in town that if one starts crying, here starts the other not too far behind her sister. I remember being in Target a couple of weeks ago and I was loading one into the basket and she started boo hooing because I put her in the seat and she wanted down in the basket. Well just as she is starting her howling as loud as she possibly can, my other one trips over her own feet and hurts herself and she starts crying. I felt like the circus was in town! I am a very shy person and do not like attention drawn to me so these are moments I don't get through so patiently some times. I am sure the audible sounds are far more louder to me than the passer bys but during the moment I feel like we are miked up for the whole world to hear!

Picking your battles

2008-11-12T05:16:00.001-08:00

I had to pick one this morning. I constantly fight with Rylan to put on a pull over in these fall mornings now because he is usually wearing shorts for the afternoon when it warms. Ugh, I just hate thinking of him getting cold. But apparently it doesn't bother him or he doesn't get as cold as I do. I am realizing he is getting older and can really start to make his own choices in things such as wearing a pull over or not. So this morning I am reminded of the picking your own battles and this one is definitely not worth fighting over! No one is getting hurt, he is not breatking rules so, son you win and if you are cold throughout the day, lesson learned!

Friend Prayer Warrior, Do you have one?

2008-11-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

In Exodus 17 when Joshua was fighting the Amalekites, Moses, Aaron and Hur were at the top of a hill looking down upon the battle. When Moses had his staff raised, Joshua (with the Lord) was winning the battle, but when Moses arms would get tired and lower, the Amalekites would be winning. So when Moses' hands grew tired, they (Aaron and Hur) took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on each side so that his hands remained steady. We need friends and family like this, to hold us up when we are losing the battle to encourage and pray for us! To go to the battle with us and walk in prayer for us DAILY to help us win the battle, to be a prayer warrior for and with us!

Do you have a friend or group of friends that pray for you on a daily basis? I have found just today how important that really is. I have a friend that has been praying for me about how I spend money. I have discovered that when I am bored, unhappy, or mad at my husband, I like to go and spend money! Ugh.. it is an ugly thing about me as I am supposed to be wise with money. This is something I am working on and with the Lord's help, it is coming under control. This last week, some of us took a trip to Canton. I have been before and man, I spent a lot of money! There are such beautiful things for your house, spouse and man if you have a little girl, there is ton's of stuff. But all it is is stuff! More things for me to find a place for. So anyway, my friend had prayed that morning for us (me and her) to be conscious of our spending. Man it helped, I only spent about $125 including food! This is ENORMOUS for me. I spent well over $350 last trip and I only had Rylan then! So my friend at the end of the day with a smile on her face said she had prayed that morning for us. Looking back on the day, the MANY things that caught my eye, I found myself not having to REALLY talk myself out of buying. Sure I had to think about the purchase but it didn't bother me to just put it down and say not now! (there is this one certain hat I wish I had bought myself though)Then just last night I had said to her, "I don't know if you are still praying about my financial situation but it is working if you are" She shook her head and said that YES, she still was! That explains while all this week, I have not been to town once to "pick up that one item that we NEED". I am staying away from town and it is ok. I don't feel like I am missing anything! I am really content and that is because of the prayers my friend is sending up for me!
So if you don't have a close friend, someone in a group of yours that you can trust to really pray for you, I advise you get on your knees and ask the Lord to show you who you can trust to pray for your needs. Even ones that you think may be small ones! It is awesome to have someone like that in your life to encourage you and most of all PRAY FOR YOU! Thank you friend, you know who you are!

Some will abandon the faith

2008-11-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

I came across this chapter today from 1 Timothy 4. It is definetly from the Lord as today is election day!
1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and Prayer.
6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be Godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.9This is trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the belivers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and you hearers.

I pray for you and me that we ask for eyes of the Lord. That we see his truth in all things. I pray that we are not deceived from the evil one. Evil is good at talking smoothly so that you don't quite hear the truth behind the message. Look closely for God's Truth in everything. When you have questions go to the Living Word of God for counsel. If you don't understand ask God to reveal to you his truth in whatever situation you may be going through! Be sure to go to him for the little things as well as the huge things in your life!

Remember whatever happens on this election day and days in the future OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Trick or Treat

2008-10-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

Some quick pictures of tonights trick or treating. We went to walk around town with some friends today in Merkel. Mesquite Bean gave away bean burritos and DQ gave ice cream. They were yummy. We then went to see Grandad in Tye. He always has good candy for the kiddos and we love seeing him! We stopped by the City of Tye little festival for a bit before going off to Gammy and Pops house to show off our costumes. Rylan was the scream character. It was blazing hot so his costume didn't stay on for very long. I was glad to be done treating so early because I am off to Canton in the morning!!! I am soooo super duper excited. It has been years since I have been and I had a child with me last time! I am ready for some good girl talk with my best friend Sandee and some family time with my mom-n-law and aunt Lou Lou and some others I havn't seen in awhile! If only I can sleep through the excitement! The only sad thing is I will miss Rylan's first playoff game, if they win I will get to see him in his last game of his mighty mite career for the championship next Sat. Lets pray he has a game next Sat. because I do love to watch him play!

Fall Pictures

2008-10-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Coming back from Rylan's football game in Hawley we passed this pumpkin patch on HWY 277. It was weird that just a couple of days before I was wishing someone had a patch we could take pictures in. We just happened to drive by this one by chance. I was so excited to get some pictures of the kids. I didn't get too many good ones because my darn camera doesn't have a flash and it was getting to be around dusk. So here are a few I can share. Isn't Rylan a good photographer? He took the one of me and the girls. I am never in pictures because I am always the one behind the camera trying to capture every moment! I am so afraid of forgetting memories! You may not get to see all my pictures but I have tons on my computer. One day I will get to categorize them all!

Syd over for the day!

2008-09-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is kinda a silly picture but it was the only one I got when we had Syd over for the day! She is the daughter to my very best friend and the girls love her! We spent the day playing babies and watching Princess Gigi! What great fun we all had!

First Day of Tues/Thurs School

2008-09-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, the girls look really ready to go in the first picture. They actually came running in my room the morning of school and both of them saying "I'm not going to cry momma!" You see, they cried almost every day last year when I dropped them off. So this year I was really amazed that they were so excited about going. We talked about school every day when bubba started and kept telling them how in a week they would start. The second picture shows them getting kinda nervous and they know the time is coming. But still they triumph through and they didn't cry when it was time for mom to go. They did although try to walk after me out of the room but their teacher is so awesome, she stopped them and redirected them and they were great for the day! I on the other hand was sad all day long!

2008-09-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

This is Rylan at his first game this year. He is usually not number 70 but is number 00. Thank goodness the new jerseys had come in on this day or Rylan would not have had a jersey! This was an extra one that the team had. Rylan had been to a birthday party the night before and left it in the other parents car and we didn't realize it until game time! Ugh. so frustrating! Whew, and dad was mad too! That is my goal is to PLAN AHEAD and get everything ready the night before! Everything seems to go so smoothly when that happens.
Sweet sweet grandad is in the red shirt talking to Rylan. He is such of Big Fan of Rylan and all his grandkids and greatgrandkids. We are so lucky to have him so involved! What a blessing he is!!! We love you Grandad!

2008-09-11T15:47:00.000-07:00

This was just precious! I was washing dishes and heard the girls reading so sweetly. When I looked up I discovered the audience they had made. I think they are pretending to read like the ladies do at BSF! I am so thankful Russ has allowed me to stay at home and not work for this season in my life! BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) has been not only a blessing to me, but my girls learn every Wed. that the Bible is true and it is God Breathed! I am so lucky! We are also so lucky to have my best friend in the class with the girls this year! We are very sad that Syd is not in the same class though, but that is all in the plan of our Heavenly Father!

2008-09-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

This is a couple of shots of what our girls do while we moms are "PTOing". Up top they are coloring and in the bottom picture they are holding the door open for all the kindergardeners.

2008-09-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Avery in the Brown and Micah in the orange shirt. This was our first day at Beltway Mops. The girls transitioned so well into their class that they stay in for the day. It also helped that they had their friend Aspen to look forward to staying with! WE LOVE OUR CHURCH! With Beltway hosting MOPS it sure helped the girls being dropped off in a familiar place. We had a blast this day and I came away very encouraged!

2008-09-07T20:54:00.001-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/57wtm2

My Avery

2008-09-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

4 Years Old

My Micah

2008-09-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

4 Years Old