Daily Blessings

Senior Honor Night

2011-10-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

Austin was honored for being on the cross country team for 2 years. He did it all 4 years but only completed 2 full years. We are so proud of you Austin!

What a great night!

Fire Department Visit

2011-10-18T12:47:00.000-04:00

Liam wants to be a Fire Fighter when he grows up.

We visited the local fire deparment.

What a great group of men!

I look forward to the day Liam can start volunteering there.

After this visit Robert started volunteering there.

Austin is 18!!!!

2011-10-18T12:37:00.000-04:00

Austin...I love you!

I'm proud of you!

As you are walking into the next phase of your life know I'm always here for you!

Yep I'm in shock...how can it be my son is 18!

I wish I could go back and do it all over again.

Austin and Dad

All of us - me, Austin, Handsome, Robert, Beau and Liam

Happy Birthday!!!

I pray you walk thru each door God has open for you!

I'm praying for your wife and your children.

I'm praying you always know and feel how much you are loved!

Begining of Fall 2011

2011-09-29T09:46:00.000-04:00

Beau

Robert

Robert, Liam and Beau

Liam with the ducks

Robert and the ducks

Robert

Liam and Beau

Beau

Robert

Beau and Liam

Running

Love you Boys!

Love this picture!
Liam and Beau

turtles!

One of my favorite places to take the boys!

I love to take the boys to here. We feed the ducks, turtle and fish. This time Austin wasn't with us. That only means we need to go again soon!

Fall Pictures!!

2011-09-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

Liam age 7! The sun kept getting in his eyes.
I'm going to try to do a couple more fall pictures today.

Beau age 5!

In just a couple weeks Beau will be 6!

Happy Fall!!

Pictures of the teens to come.

Another Life Lesson

2011-09-29T09:20:00.000-04:00

Boys my prayer for you is that you will learn enough to want to change!

You will learn from others mistakes!

You will be teachable!

You will be open to change!

I love you!

Grudges and Forgiveness

2011-09-29T09:06:00.000-04:00

Don't hold on to a grudge...life is short fill it with loving others!

Until you forgive those that have hurt you you can't move on...you get stuck.

Forgiving doesn't mean you have to include them in your life but that you no longer hold onto the pain caused by their actions.

Music to My Ears

2011-09-25T19:15:00.000-04:00

Liam has started to sing along with the radio again. He has always kinda sung with the radio but now he is singing a little louder. I love to hear him sing along to the praise music. We went to Michael’s yesterday to get some craft stuff…almost the whole way there I could hear him singing along. Then when we got out of the van he continued to sing the song! I love to hear the boys sing praises to God!

Day Dreaming of Next Spring!

2011-09-22T10:14:00.000-04:00

I'm already picking out the new bushes and flowers I want to add to the yard next spring.

I know what my Christmas gifts to myself will be!!!

Aren't they pretty!

I wonder how fast they will grow?

This weekend we are going to work on getting the flowerbeds ready for fall and winter.

Maybe I can get one now?

Every year spring is more beautiful in our yard!

Hand-Me-Down Heaven!

2011-09-21T08:22:00.002-04:00

I’ve been slowly picking up the next couple sizes for Liam as I find them on clearance or at GoodWill. I think we have plenty of jeans/pants for this winter and for next winter. This weekend we got a phone call from Angie! We picked up a HUGE tub of clothes. Most of them fit Robert perfectly! So he is going to use them first. He is going to be the best dressed exchange student at the high school this year. Then today a daytime dad passed some more shirts to Austin and Robert. Robert has more clothes right now than he has ever had! Right before school started another daytime dad had brought a HUGE bag of stuff for Austin. Thank you God for providing all the Wonderful clothes! What a huge Blessing! We were even able to pass some on to the youth home!

I’m inspired to go thru my stuff! I pray the person that gets my stuff feels just as Blessed as we do!

Shoes!

2011-09-19T22:02:00.002-04:00

Liam seems to outgrow his shoes first! I noticed at the bus stop about a week ago there was a small hole on one shoe. Well today I saw the hole was much larger and there was a hole on the other shoe! So I took him to Target and WooHoo there were some great shoes in the clearance! I have a feeling these will need to be replaced before winter is over. He is growing so fast!

More than Half Way!

2011-09-19T12:10:00.000-04:00

I’ve taken Liam out two times to sell popcorn. We have only done about half of our neighborhood, but he is already more than half way to his goal!! His goal from Cub Scouts is $498, but I think we are going to try for $600. I’m sure there are some boys who won’t be able to reach their goal amount so we can help make up the difference. I’m also hoping that if we surpass others will also surpass their goal amount and maybe they will lower the renew fee for January.

Liam is doing so well. He is looking the people in the eye and answering most of the questions on his own. I would like for him to speak up some but he is doing well. He isn’t getting tired at all walking door to door and has such a good attitude even when they say no thank you. He did have a hard time for a little bit understanding why someone would say no. I explained it’s just not in everyone’s budget. He accepted that. It was sad to see some of the houses I don’t see often are up for sell and not looking their best. It makes me so thankful we are making ends meet! Thank you God!

I’m going to work on Liam’s Cub Scout shirt today! I know he will be excited to see it when he gets home. I’m so proud of him! He is doing really well memorizing all those wonderful sayings. I know he will get his patch in no time! He has his first Pack meeting this Thursday. I hope to be done selling popcorn by then!

Sadly so far he has only sold one $30 for the military. I’m praying he will hit the $100 mark before we are done!

Popcorn!!!

2011-09-15T10:29:00.000-04:00

Liam joined Cub Scouts!

He has his first meeting tomorrow.

We got him a t-shirt at the parent meeting but I had to order his class A shirt online. As soon as it comes I will take some pictures.
He is so excited about being a Cub Scout!

He has already started selling POPCORN!! His goal is $498! Yikes! Thankfully there is a choice that is only $9! I walked him up and down our street last night. We missed a couple people, weren't home at the time, but he has already gotten $88! I'm going to take him around tonight and this weekend. I hope to hit that amount this Saturday.

Next year we will have 2 boys in scouts! I wonder how many neighborhoods will it take to meet both boys goals!

This is a badge I would like Liam to get! I hope he gets a couple orders for service men and women.

Farting Boys

2011-09-15T09:39:00.000-04:00

Since Beau started school farting has become humor for both Liam and Beau. I don’t know what it is with boys or maybe it’s just my boys but they think it’s sooo funny when someone farts. Even more funny when they do it!

The other night Beau waited for Handsome to get done praying with him and let one fly. Laughter came from both beds. Then not to be outdone Liam let one even worse go! UGH!!!

Does it make it better or worse that our sweet dog Corps has a gas issue too?

I’m praying they outgrow this before they become interested in girls!

The Big First Grader, Liam

2011-08-31T10:41:00.006-04:00

Now that you are in First Grade you seem to have aged and matured. You are adjusting to First Grade and all the new homework with ease. I am very proud of you! Thank you for being a good example for Beau. Please remember to have kind hands and kind words!

I love how in this picture we can see the 2 teeth missing that match up on the same side! You are just growing up too fast!

You can be very silly. I can't tell if you have Dad's humor or Austin's. I think it might be a good mix of both!

Yep you are a Silly One!

I love how the you said if someone likes you they will tell you "You are flaming Hot" in this shirt! You are 7 going on 22!

I'm proud to be your Mom! I love you so much! I love your tender heart! I love how sweet you are! I love that you love to read! I look forward to what God has for you! I know you want to be a hero of some kind...most of the time you say Fire Fighter.

I think it's funny this is your current favorite shirt and you want to be a Fire Fighter!

Beau has become the Ham!

2011-08-31T10:20:00.005-04:00

Beau is sillier every day! At times it’s cute and other times he can drive me crazy. I’m hoping dinner time doesn’t end up as Beau comedy time. I keep talking to him about calming down and eating at the table. I wonder if he is doing the same thing at school. I hope not.

Every day he is excited to get to the bus stop. But when the bus comes he wants a kiss or two and for a moment I see the flash of uhoh I’m leaving mom again. I smile and remind him to have kind hands and kind words and he is back to his bubbly self and up the stairs on the bus. Today he quickly got into his seat and started waving at me…waving and waving and making funny faces! I have a feeling we are going to have to come up with some comedy time for him to get out all his silliness from the day.

TaaaDAAA! I Love You Beau! One of the many things I love about you is that you are happy most of the time!

God has great plans for you! I look forward to seeing what gifts and talents he has given you! I'm so thankful I get to be your Mom!

Bring on Fall!

2011-08-30T10:33:00.001-04:00

This summer has been one of the hottest and stickiest summers in a long time. I’m ready for Fall! I’m looking forward to the leafs changing colors. I’m looking forward to playing in the backyard more. The weekend in the mountains was a sweet preview of weather to come. I missed Handsome greatly but I’m glad he got to spend time with his mom and brother over the weekend. I’m looking forward to another trip up there. Next time I think I will lay down some rules before we go and make a schedule. I think if the little boys know all the fun things planned they will have an easier time. They enjoyed seeing the sunset and sunrise! I plan on watching many more with them. I know we will see lots of sunrises at the bus stop…maybe we will watch a couple sunsets on the front porch.

I’m doing a fantasy football league this year! My first one! I’m looking forward to it. It would be Wonderful to win! It would be great to beat the boys! LOL!!

This year seems to be going by much faster. I guess that means I’m getting old!

Runner for Panthers

2011-08-26T07:39:00.002-04:00

This morning waiting on the front porch before we walked to the bus stop I asked Beau what he wanted to be when he grows up. He has said Rock Star for the last 5 years. Today was different.
Beau “a runner.”
Hhhmmm….okay I’ll ask. “A Runner?”
Beau “ Yes for the Panthers.”
I said “you mean a receiver?”
Beau “ No Mom, a running back for the Panthers. But I only want to wear the away”
Hhhmmm….”Away?”
Beau “The away uniform is cool, but not the other one”

LOL! I love how he thinks he will be able to wear the away uniform to the home games! LOL!!

I have already bought him a couple birthday gifts...all Rock Star things. UGH!! Oh well. Maybe a "Runner for the Panthers" will be a phase?

Giving Back

2011-08-24T09:13:00.002-04:00

This year is the first year all of our boys are in school. In the past we have made a point to work with Austin on ways to give back. Either with friends, someone in need or even just joining in a sevice project. The little boys understand keeping their clothes in good shape so that we can pass them on to others. But this year I would like to find a way for our boys to give back together. Robert is from a country in need. I think coming here has highlighted how far behind they are. So far for me what sticks out the most is the fact they don't have hot water very often so they only shower once a week! WoW. I use hot water 90% of the time. How do you wash dishes and really get them clean if the water isn't hot? I wash our whites, towels and bedding in hot water. I melt the day away in a super hot soak in the tub. Unlike our homes they don't have hot water heaters in their homes. They depend on the goverment to provide hot water. I would like to ship over a hot water heater...not sure they would know what to do with it but I think it would change their lives. I'm not able to do that so I want to help open Roberts eyes to the changes here he can take home with him. Giving is one of them. So I'm praying for a program or a situation that all the boys can do together. I'm wondering if there is someone in need of yard work in our area???

First Day of Senior Year!!

2011-08-18T13:33:00.005-04:00

I can't believe Austin is now a Senior! I can still see him at he age of 5 sitting next to me in the car. His legs just reaching the end of the seat. Now he towers over me and is in his last year of high school.

Austin waiting for the school bus! He was getting annoyed with me taking so many pictures. Why doesn't he know that I won't always be able to take pictures...he is going to be gone to college next year..well I'll always have holidays and summer breaks.

I'm so proud of You, Austin!!! I love you and I'm excited to see how God is going to use you!

First Day of School!

2011-08-18T11:30:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was the first day of school! Beau's first day of Kindergarten!! Liam's first day in First grade!! Beau was so excited he had his shoes and backpack on 30 minutes early! They rode the bus and had a Wonderful Day! They both had green days and told us all about the "1" child in their class that almost didn't have a green day! LOL!!

Beau wants to know why they even have plain milk...no one wants that!

I'm looking forward to today's stories from school! The house is just not the same without them. I'm excited for them, this school year will be wonderful and full of new things. I also miss them madly

Robert is Here

2011-08-13T13:43:00.003-04:00

Beau, Austin, Liam and Robert

Robert got here yesterday. We have skyped his parents. He has already unpacked and is settling in.

Robert is Coming!

2011-08-11T09:03:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow Robert gets here. We are all excited to meet him in person! His room is almost ready...I'll finish that up tonight. I'm looking forward to all we learn from and with Robert. I'm excited to take him to Church with us. It's always fun to see the expressions on the exchange student faces when they go to Church with us.

Praying for Robert and his adventure here. I'm praying for his family and friends back home. I hope he enjoys our family and area.

I've been thinking about doing a blog just about hosting...several people have suggested I do one.

End of Summer

2011-08-10T10:03:00.002-04:00

It's still hot...Very hot! But school starts next week. I'm going to miss my boys. This is the first year all 3 of them are going to school. I can't believe this is going to be Austin's last year in high school. It seems like just yesterday he was 5 years old and riding next to me in the car with his feet barely reaching the end of the seat.

Next week begins the 6am wake ups and standing at the bus stop with the other kids....then the 2:45pm waiting by the door for my little men to get off the bus. I get to wave at the driver daily! I'm so thankful they let me stay here with the kids and just wave to let them know I'm here and the kids are safe.

Robert, our next exchange student, is coming Friday!! I'm sure he is going to be worn out by the time he gets here. We are all getting excited to meet him and get to know him. I wish he could go to the school welcome day but it's tomorrow. I think we will take him up to the school on Friday and show him where his classes are. I wonder if he will want to do cross country with Austin. I wonder how he is going to react to the dogs. Poor Corps! It seems like everyone is afraid of him.

Looking back over the summer it was a good one. We had a lot of fun with the exchange students. We have been playing more board game and getting organized. I have really enjoyed watching the backyard bloom this year. Each year is better than the year before! We made some wonderful memories this summer. I look forward to this school year and all it holds.

Flowers of 2011

2011-08-07T16:46:00.017-04:00

One of my new butterfly bushes! I'm really enjoying all the butterflies!
I love the color of the new bush

My butterfly bush from last year! It's "pink" but looks very purple to me!

The neighbor's crape myrtle...it's right behind my butterfly bush.

I love my rose bushes. I'm going to cut them all back this fall.

Another one of my rose bushes.

Yes, I love red roses

I got a pink bush for a gift. I'm thinking about moving it.

One of my new hydrangea plants. They don't ususally bloom their first year...it must love where it is!

This winter when I miss all my flowers I'm going to look back at the flower post I did and enjoy them!