A quick update

I really haven't fallen off the face of the earth...but life gets busy, schedules change, and some things get put on the back burner, so to speak.
Lots of things have changed since my last post--

• I returned to teaching in the classroom in August, 2013
• My kids started Christian School at the same time
• Grandma went to Heaven on October 16, 2013
• We saw God's faithfulness to us during the loss of my husband's job
• My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year (July 2015)
• Mom had to move into an assisted living facility in July 2015
• Dad joined her in February 2016
• We have taken several trips up to the Northeast section of the U.S. and have loved it!
• "R" is now a Junior in High School; also has her learner's permit!
• "D" is now a 6th grader and in Junior High
• "S" is now a 2nd grader
• Our church celebrated her 35th anniversary in June--we had lots of food, fellowship, preaching, inflatables, and fireworks!
• Oh, we love summer!  =)

I know there is lots that I haven't written about, but one last thought is that God is good, all the time!

A Summer 2012 Recap

Wow! How time flies...I certainly did not intend to be gone from my blog for such a long time! It's good to be back.  :)

Summer 2012~this involves lots of pictures  :)

June~

• the family schedule relaxed
•  vegetable garden was a few weeks old

• my youngest daughter was promoted to my Sunday School class  :)
• my son finished first grade and was excited for summertime!
• my oldest daughter finished sixth grade and was thrilled for time off
• we went on an overnight trip with Grandma to Williamsburg to celebrate her birthday
• when we got back to her house, the "clubhouse" had been delivered and set in place

• the kids and I went with some friends to the zoo--it was a gorgeous day!
• Hubbie and I had a few days to ourselves while the kids visited Grandma and Grandpa--we even toured a Harley-Davidson factory

• a super strong storm went through the area (durecho), but thankfully, we kept our power and had no damage to our property. Others in our area were not so fortunate...
• play date with sweet friends

July~

• our family marched with our church in our local 4th of July parade

• we watched some beautiful fireworks and enjoyed the gorgeous weather
• celebrated my mom's birthday and my parent's 47th anniversary

• play dates with friends
• we visited Appomattox Court House (where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, which ended the Civil War)

• "R" went to church camp for five days
• "D" got to have some fun days with friends while his big sister was away
• a friend of ours had very successful cancer surgery--PRAISE THE LORD!
• my niece, Anna, got to visit for a little while  :)
• some cute ranch hands came to visit for the day

August~

• Hubbie and I had a few days to ourselves while the kids visited Nanny and Poppy  :)
• we drove on the Skyline Drive--it was beautiful!

• "S" tried corn on the cob for the first time

• another play date with some friends
• school started the last Tuesday of the month--"R" is in 7th, "D" is in 2nd, and "S" is in preschool

• we finished cleaning out and organizing our storage room--oh, what a nice feeling!

September~

• the family visited Gettysburg National Military Park for two days, where the kids earned their "Junior Ranger" patches and certificates

• while in the park, we climbed an observation tower, and could see the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with a 360 degree view

• "D" lost his first tooth
• our church had a wonderful Missions Conference--Our theme this year was "Missions Makes A Difference"

What a wonderful summer the Lord gave us! I am so very thankful for great memories and sweet fellowship with friends and family.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a blessed day!

Counting My Blessings ~ #66-80

 

As the counting continues~

66. birthday blessings

67. rain

68. fresh cup of hot coffee

69. my quiet time

70. Abraham series that we are doing on Wednesday nights

71. an email from my brother

72. convenience of my favorite grocery store

73. doctors who care

74. medical tests to try to figure out issues

75. God's patience with me

76. hubbie's real estate business is picking up

77. graduation announcement from a former student

78. springtime

79. garden planning

80. seeing my children enjoy playtime with some sweet friends

Anne hosts this special link-up...please join us!

Daybook #49

For today, Tuesday, April 24, 2012~

Outside my window~

the sun is shining brightly

I am hearing~

"R" finish up her history lesson

"D" is creating with empty paper towel and toilet paper tubes

"S" is napping

I am thinking~

about how much I am loved  :)

I am thankful~

for such a sweet family

I am remembering~

my birthday surprises

and very thankful for some sweet friends

who helped make my day special

I am reading~

my Bible and a Southern Living magazine

I am hoping~

the children do well on their standardized tests

On my mind~

are some little babies in our church who are in the NICU

From the learning rooms~

school is quickly winding down for the year,

so there is lots of review

Noticing that~

the weather this spring has been all over--

wet, cold, warm, dry, and hot!

I am creating~

this blog post  ;)  but nothing else right now

From the kitchen~

out for my birthday dinner last night

jerk chicken tonight (YUMM!)

Around the house~

the spring decorations are up

One of my favorite things~

is to be with my family

A few plans for the rest of the week~

include finishing up standardized testing

mid-week church service

trying my hand at homemade pop-tarts

From my picture journal~

~a recent field trip~

~site of the original home~

 ~overlooking Pope's Creek~

~Fawn, our friendly US Park Ranger, administering the

Junior Ranger oath~ 

 ~taking the Junior Ranger oath~

Thanks for stopping by today! This was a fun memory for our family.

I'm joining Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook. Feel free to visit her and read other daybooks!  :)

Cherry Blossoms and Monuments

Because of the nice warm weather our area has been experiencing, the cherry blossoms in DC are showing their beauty much sooner this year. A few nights ago, we took a drive downtown and my sweet "Hubbbie" captured some beautiful shots...Enjoy!

~The Washington Monument~

~The Jefferson Memorial~

 

~a nice jogger stopped and took our photo~

~siblings~

Peace

In an email I received earlier today, these paragraphs spoke to my heart...hope you enjoy!

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4

Some thoughts:

• Our MINDs need to be stayed: focused, kept, continued on HIM. Take your mind off your circumstances and put it on HIM. Magnify Him and not your difficulty.
• Our minds are able to stay on HIM because we TRUST in HIM. Do not trust in what you see or feel. Trust in your God forever-he is the only unchanging thing in your life!
• In HIM is everlasting strength! Tired, weary, discouraged? You need strength, and you don't have it in yourself. In the Lord alone is everlasting strength.

~some peaceful photos to share~

Our Birthday Boy!

Happy Happy Birthday to our seven year old son~

We love you, "D", and are so proud of you! You are:

• caring
• thoughtful
• almost always smiling
• tender-hearted
• compassionate
• smart
• loving
• giving

Daddy and I and your sisters are so very thankful that God gave you to us seven years ago! You have brought us so much joy and happiness. We look forward to seeing how God uses you in the coming year!

Love,
Daddy and Mommy

~Happy 7th Birthday!~

HAPPY 15TH ANNIVERSARY!

It's been a wonderful 15 years...you are the perfect man for me! Happy Anniversary, Hubbie! I love being your wife and look forward to at least 100 more years together!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!

DADDY, MOMMY, "R", AND "D"

ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR FAMILY!

YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL RAY OF SUNSHINE

AND YOU BRING SO MUCH JOY TO OUR LIVES!

YOU HAVE MATURED SO MUCH IN THE LAST YEAR...YOU NO LONGER HAVE THAT CUTE LITTLE "BABY-FACE". YOU CAN CARRY ON A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH ADULTS AND OTHER CHILDREN. YOU DO SO WELL MEMORIZING BIBLE VERSES, AND WHEN YOU LAY DOWN FOR BED AT NIGHT, WE ALWAYS SING "JESUS LOVES ME" AND "JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN". YOU LOVE TO COLOR AND DRESS UP IN YOUR "CINDELELLA" DRESS!

TODAY, WE CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS LIFE! WE ARE

THANKFUL TO GOD FOR GIVING YOU TO US!

WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

LOVE,

DADDY

MOMMY

"R"

"D"

Our Trip to New England

Well, friends, Happy Thursday! In just two short weeks, it will be Thanksgiving Day! It really doesn't seem possible that we are already into November!

A few weeks ago, our family had the great privilege to travel to the New England area. Can I say "WOW!" Hubbie and I had been to New York before, but never any further north. We had such a great time! The children did so well in the car...but anytime we take a road trip, they are all for it! :)

I'll leave you with some of our memories...

~Tuesday--Minute Man National Park, Concord, Massachusetts~

 ~approximate site of the capture of Paul Revere~

 ~taking the oath to receive their "Junior Ranger" badges~

 ~the famous "North Bridge"~

 ~Wednesday and Friday were spent in Boston~

 ~Thursday--driving through Vermont, New Hampshire and spent the night in Maine!~

 ~now we are in New Hampshire~

This is not all we did or saw, but it is all the time I have for blogging today. :)  I will share more at a later time.

Tomorrow is a special day~our baby turns 3!