Worth the drive....

6 more hours in the car...I think Micah was probably wondering if we had moved into our car!



All 3 kids did a GREAT job traveling...and once we got here, we were reminded WHY we would subject ourselves to 18 (? or so) hours driving. We arrived in time to play on the beach, swim in the gulf & in the pool, grocery shop, make spaghetti, and then swim some more (Brock and Erica, that is.....Micah was passed out in his "crib away from crib")!!

Here is the pool/beach view just a few steps outside our door...



Brock and Erica enjoyed their night-swim...




We even spotted some Florida wildlife!!.....



As we are surrounded with palm trees, I couldn't help but reflect...

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey's colt."

John 12:12-15

FLORIDA or bust!!!

Oh happy day!!

We are on our way to the great SUNSHINE STATE of FLORIDA!!!

We are posting from Macon, Georgia (thank you, Country Inn Suites, for free Wi-fi!!!)...10 hours down....8 to go. The kids did GREAT in the car. Very little complaining, very little arguing, and almost no tears (except for when I accidently crunched Micah's finger with my elbow.....but that was a quick recovery)



We even ran into Tim and Ali & family (my brother an sis-in-law and 3 kids) on their way to Alabama...



so we shared the road with them and even had lunch together in Tennessee. How fun is that...totally unplanned!


Thank you, Lord, for safe travel and happy kids!!

We will try to post some sun-and-sand pics soon!!!

The Second Half

This is a little embarrassing.

I have been meaning to get out my "Thankfulness List" for quite some time...so tonight I finally did. Two things shocked me: 1) I was only on #501...out of 1000! I had some delusion recently that I was in the 700's somewhere!! AND 2) My fourth to the last item on the list was "Christmas tree lights on at night"!

Oh my! It HAS been awhile!

Here are a couple of highlights from today's additions:
502. Spring!
504. Hastas....coming up again!
508. Longer days
510. Micah feeling better
514. New-found blogs
515. Old favorite blogs
517. Micah's new kisses
521. Bubble baths!

Only, what? 479 more to add!

Lord, open my eyes to all the blessing you have SHOWERED on me and my family!!

In everything give thanks;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:18

Inspired

I am inspired....or should I say "RE-inspired"....

A friend introduced me to a new website today. Tonight I decided to check it out a little more....and I loved what I read. I felt very convicted to go into my archives and dig out this "blast from the past" clip-art (from a post in November)...and even MORE convicted to take up arms against my snooze button. Not soley for the purpose of defeating the snooze....but for the bigger purpose (much, much bigger) of spending time with my Lord!

Pray for me, would you?? I soooooooooooo want this to be the way I start my day! EVERYday!

Here....go check out the article (and the website) for yourself.


My morning joys from Laines Letters.com

OK....gotta go. Morning seems to come so early!! =)

Happy Birthday, BROCK!!!!!

13 years ago today. 4:30 pm. 6 pounds, 12 ounces.

Seriously....13 years ago??!!!

Happy birthday, Brock.
Your dad and I are so proud of the young man that you are becoming. You are sensitive, funny, strong, smart...and soooooo much more! You have been a wonderful big brother...first to Erica...and now to Micah. We can't wait to see what the "teen years" have in store (take it easy on us, would ya????!!!!!)

We love you!

The lights are on, but no one is home!!

Is that what you have been thinking??
Thanks for still checking in. We do still live here...just haven't been posting much lately. Don't give up on 'OUR HOUSE' yet. I'll get my act together soon!!

=)

Go baby, go!!

3 (or is it 4??) trips to Florida for Spring Break.
3 Mission trips packed with high school youth.
1460 (or something like that) trips to school with the kids.
Countless drives to the hospital and office.
Hundreds of trips to church.
Loads and loads of kids going to various places.
Ballgames. Campouts. Weddings. Funerals.

She's still pretty. And she's still running great.
Never mind those sticky locks when it gets really, really cold.

Go baby, Go!!!!

Just a little chuckle.

This may be one of those "I guess you had to be there" kinda moments....but I am it sharing anyway. File it under "Kid's say the cutest things".

Yesterday in my office, I was seeing a 5 year old for a check-up. She was absolutely adorable...with her long curls and VERY bubbly personality. She had just told me about a classmate who was mean to other kids at school....and I responded "That makes me feel sad. But, you aren't mean to other kids at school, are you??" And her response just made me giggle. She said:

"NO, not EVER.
But sometimes when I growl at my friends, they THINK I am going to EAT them....but, really I'm NOT, I just want their attention."

=)

So, sweet friends, if ever I have growled at you....it was never with the intent to EAT you. It was probably just attention seeking behavior!! =)

Have a happy day!