family photo - take 927

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crawfish boil

Our family went to our first crawfish boil this past weekend. We got together with our neighbors and had a blast....and tried crawfish for the first time. It was pretty good. I must say my favorite were the mushrooms though. Such a good flavor!

(crawfish)

 (more crawfish)

 (crawfish awaiting death by broiler)

 (crawfish close-up)

 (hot. hot. hot)

 (yum. yum. yum)

 (no we did not suck the heads)

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live your life on purpose (part 2)

If you want to read part 1 of our story, head to this post.

 Did you think our story ended there? No way! The best was yet to come! Truth be told, our story will forever be growing and adapting. As with everything in this life, there will be good seasons and bad seasons. What you choose to take and learn from those times has the potential to change your life forever. Choose with meaning and carefulness. Do every little thing you do on purpose.

When I left you in part 1, I had three young children and I was alone, struggling and searching. My faith was tattered and fragile. I was working full time at Old Navy. A friendship began with a co-worker. He was somewhat quiet, polite and respectful. Our circle of friends spent a lot of hours together. Over time, he and I started noticing one another in a new way. An exciting way. We talked about everything. We were very similar, and yet not. Eventually, he met L, M and M. We all fell in love. Aaron and I were married March 18, 2006. Luke was 5, Madison was 4 and Micah was 2. Three months later we were pregnant! Brady James was welcomed with ten open arms to our family on March 2, 2007. It was a very special time in our lives.

Here we are five years later. Luke is 11, Madison is 10, Micah is 8 and Brady is 5. Aaron and I recently celebrated 6 years of marriage. I have learned so much from my husband and our children. My faith has gained much strength through the joy of my family. I want to live my life as a testament to God's love and forgiveness. I want the grace of God to shine through me. Not so people can see me and my works. Rather that others may see God and his works.

I am not at all proclaiming that I am perfect. But I am a perfect example of a woman who has sinned and felt the consequences deep in my soul for a long time. Once I knew I had already been forgiven by my heavenly Father, because of the debt he paid on the cross, I could start to live my life on purpose.



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live your life on purpose

My husband and I celebrated six years of marriage March 18th. I feel so blessed to have a committed and loving husband. And I am sure my husband feels extremely blessed to have such a rockin' hot wife!

Ahem!

You may be reading this post scratching your head and thinking, "Wait a sec, SIX years of marriage? How can that be? Their oldest, Luke, is eleven years old. I don't get it."

Then again it may not even cross your mind.  That's okay too. Or you may know me and know our story.

Whichever the case, I am going to share our story(not in great detail) on my blog today.

I found out I was pregnant on my 22nd birthday. It is hard for me to even remember my exact feelings at the moment I looked down at the stick and saw two lines. Or was it a plus sign? I don't even know! I was not married. I was not trying to get pregnant. I was in disbelief for awhile. I was so young and really had no idea how my life was going to be forever changed. I was scared. Abortion crossed my mind, but it was NEVER an option. My parents were extremely supportive, and I am sure worried. About seven or eight weeks in to the pregnancy, I decided it would be best to move in with my parents. I needed to take care of myself and stay healthy. I needed to prepare for this life that was growing inside of me. Luke was born on May 31, 2000. I was a mother.

I got pregnant again. I was not married. I was not trying to get pregnant. I visited a Planned Parenthood. I had never felt so uneasy. I am not really sure why I even went. I could have never gone through with having an abortion. I still lived at home with my mom, dad and brother, Martin. Madison was born 18 months after Luke on December 1, 2001. I loved being a mother. I loved holding my babies close to my chest and rocking them to sleep. I loved making them laugh and watching as they learned to crawl, feed themselves, talk, walk, climb and run! I loved my babies. But I felt empty inside. I tried hard to fill a void in my heart. While I was trying so desperately to fill that void, I was missing out on the two greatest things I had ever been blessed with.

I figured it was due time for Luke and Maddie to have a sibling so I got pregnant again. That is a joke. No, not the getting pregnant part. That is not a joke. I know, nothing about that sentence is funny. I was not married nor was I trying to get pregnant. I felt ashamed and cursed. A curse I brought upon myself, no doubt. I felt stupid and insignificant. I felt alone and undesirable. I was still living at home. Micah was born on January 20, 2004.

You might be wondering why I am telling you all of this. I feel led to share, I suppose. I feel led to share the good times and the times I have struggled. I feel led to share my sins with you, my emotions and my joys. And my children are the greatest joy in my life! I see now so much more clearly than I ever have before. Believe me I have a ways to go, but I am moving in the right direction. I have been entrusted with these four children by God. He believes in me! That is crazy to think about! Especially on the days I feel an exorcist moment coming on! Nonetheless, He trusted me enough to bless me with these four children. He knew that as I matured, I would strive towards looking to Him to bring them up the right way; to know God, to love God, and to fear God. He trusted me then at the tender age of 22, and he continues to trust and believe in me now.

I do not condone pre-marital sex. We teach abstinence in our home. My prayers lately have gone something like this: "Dear Jesus, open my heart and guide me to do your will. Whatever that may be. At any given moment, at any given day. I want you to shine through me Lord. Less of me and more of YOU. I want my kids to know you and seek to be like you. I am grateful. Forgive me, Lord. We praise your name. Amen."

I know I have been forgiven. I know why I was put on this earth. Well, I'm starting to figure it out at least. There are days that I question my existence and my ability to keep L, M, M and B from plunging to their deaths. So in the midst of the crumbs, and the Legos, the whiny attitudes, the piles of dress-up clothes, the dirty wash rags piled high in my sink, the complaining and the tattling, the empty cereal boxes, the rolling of the eyes and the french fries in my car, and the sand in my couch, etc., etc., etc....I find peace. Sometimes I have to dig real deep, but it's there!

Live your life on purpose.

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a master wiper

I know, I know....the photo I currently have as my blog's header was taken last summer. It was the last time we took a family photo. Being that my husband and I are part of the team as well, I wanted to start featuring our faces on my blog. We'll see how long that lasts. We spent all morning at a neighborhood park. There was a total of nine children and two moms. The weather was beautiful and nine kids is just too many to entertain inside. We ordered five pizzas for lunch and watched as ten children devoured them quickly.

The kids are all loving our geography curriculum, Road Trip USA, from Confessions of a Homeschooler. It is fun, straightforward, educational and inexpensive! I downloaded it straight to my computer! She has a few other curriculums we are interested in as well.

I am trying hard to teach my children responsibility. Responsibility for their possessions, responsibility for their actions, for their siblings, and other people who might need their love and support. Along with other character traits such as diligence, compassion, integrity, and having a servant's heart. Just to name a few, of course.

I was thinking today that I should be called a master of all things that need to be wiped. Why? Because I spend a lot of my day wiping stuff. I wipe the kitchen counters at least three times a day. I wipe off the kitchen table after every meal. Okay that is not true, but it gets wiped. I wipe bottoms, for heaven's sake! I wipe noses. I wipe away dirt and blood from cuts and scratches. I Wipe away tears. I wipe my children's "slate" clean with forgiveness and love. Just like God wipes my "slate" clean and forgives me of my sins.

I am reading The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman. So far, so good. My husband is obsessed with reading, The Hunger Games. He is determined to have it finished by this Friday when the movie comes out.

My new favorite snack are organic rice cakes.

My husband and I celebrated 6 years of marriage March 18th. I will tell you our story and why I love this guy from Indiana so darn much soon.

Happy Wednesday!

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glamorous, I know

Oh how I have missed blogging! I actually just got back in town from traveling to Costa Rica where I layed in the sun and surfed with the sunrise. No, wait, that doesn't sound very believable. I was actually hiking in Western Europe. No, that doesn't sound like me either. What about eating beignets in Paris? Nope. I didn't think so. I wish I could tell you I've been living a glamorous life with no time to take a breath and sit down to write. Glamour is not the case. But a lack of time and energy is. Here is a tiny glimpse of what I have been doing. These snapshots are in no particular order.

"Mom, I'm doooone!" "I'll be right there"! (This is Brady calling for me to, ahem, wipe his bottom. Glamour, no doubt.)

Attempted to make dried strawberries and utterly failed.

I made frozen yogurt bites that are very tasty and refreshing though.

Celebrated a very special 5th birthday with Brady! He got many wonderful gifts including more angry birds and a Mississippi State Pillow Pet.

We are spending every Saturday across the bay cheering on our three basketball players. One more game to go, thank goodness. Oops, was that out loud?

After two years and I don't know how many months, sweet Madison cut her long locks and donated them to Pantene's Beautiful Hair Foundation. What a precious gesture from a tender hearted 10 year old.

Micah, our 8 year old, has a hard time, how should I say, taming his tongue, and therefore has gotten into trouble many times because of it. He recognizes, though, his struggle with this bad habit. That is a huge defeat on his part. He is trying to think before he speaks, as much as an eight year old boy can.

Luke's most prized possession, his ipod, was washed and dried by yours truly. I always check the pockets but neglected to check his cargo pockets that day. We both learned our lesson!

We started our new geography curriculum, Road Trip USA. We are only on Lesson 5 but I think we are all really going to enjoy it!

Micah is following in the footsteps of his older brother and taking guitar lessons.

My husband and I are in a very good season in our marriage.

Good times. Lots and lots of good times.

I gotta run now. Brady is having a pretend birthday party for Bully, his Pillow Pet. I am in charge of, well, everything.

Happy Wednesday!

(It is Wednesday right?)

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up to and in to

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turned 11 in May. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He bought himself an ipod with his own money. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming somewhat moody. He is playing football. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is taking guitar lessons and is a  joy to be around! 

 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involved bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lieing some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

In the photograph below, the bigger boy is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and rarely got in trouble at school. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He is playing football. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has lost both front teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

And of course, the little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off by saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are not home. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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the skinny

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days. And of course with photos from our Spring Break trip to Gulf Shores.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turns 11 this month. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. He played football, basketball and baseball this year but his favorite is football. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He wants and iPod for his birthday. He is full of random facts. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming quite moody. He placed 2nd overall in the half-mile run at Field Day. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is a joy to be around and plays the recorder very well! 



 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involves bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lying some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

 This is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and hardly ever gets in trouble at school. He recently got three stitches in his foot. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has yet to lose any of his top teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

  

This little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off my saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are at school. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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the boys who play baseball...

 ...and those who love them.

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stronger everyday

My relationship grows closer and stronger everyday with this blond boy, Brady James., the baby of our bunch.

 Beautiful bonding.

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picture perfect

It doesn't get any easier

 as our children get older

to capture a photograph

with all four of our lovelies

wide eyed and smiling.

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a lighthouse

Some of the most fun the kids had on our recent trip up North, was seeing a lighthouse and Lake Michigan. We were in Michigan City, Indiana. Yes Indiana. No, not Michigan. Try to stay with me.

It was a beautiful day with just the right amount of chilled wind. My father-in-law took us on this particular adventure.

We walked to the lighthouse along a cement path and overlooking Lake Michigan. Luke was especially thrilled that he was getting to see one of the Great Lakes.

Walking along the edge of the light house was not scary at all with four small children and no railing at times.

We made it, obviously. The view was lovely up, down and all around. 

My husband kept saying how he couldn't believe how calm the lake was.

I mean honestly, what was he expecting? White caps and pounding waves?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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back in the sadle

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!!

Aaahhhhh. That is the sound of feeling good to get back to our home. We had a wonderful visit with my husband's family and wouldn't have missed Aunt Rachel's wedding for anything! I was reminded how good it is to spend time with our loved ones and the importance of telling our family we love them and they are dear to us. We all need to hear that every now and again.

Aunt Rachel's wedding ceremony was beautiful. She was beautiful! Our very own Maddie Robyn did a flawless job as Flower Girl. She was in her element, for sure. Brady James as the Ring Bearer....not so much. He was loud, constantly on the move and cute as a button all at once! He was an unstoppable force. Still is. But the show went on and I do's were exchanged!

Then the par-tay began.

We ate. We drank. We were merry. After dinner the unstoppable force fell fast asleep in my husband's arms. Or was in my arms? I can't remember. But I do know I held him the majority of the night and watched my family cut a rug! Luke was a sight to see. Our oldest son danced at a wedding for the first time. My heart beamed with joy watching he and my husband share this time together. Luke did everything my husband did, from roll up his sleeves to loosen his tie and clap his hands. It was precious. Pretty soon Luke was on his own letting loose and busting moves. I sat with Brady in my arms and couldn't take my eyes off them. If I could have froze that moment in time, I would have.

Pictures? Why, of course I have pictures. Only 438! But you will have to wait. Why? Well I have been busy doing other things like unpacking, catching up on laundry, helping children with make-up work, wiping up spilled milk and sifting through 610 emails. That's why.

Gotta run...Brady is on the move.

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I am starting to think....

...my kids are growing up way too fast.

I am starting to think they truly will be grown up and on their own in the blink of an eye.

I am starting to think I don't want to miss a moment of their childhood days.

I am starting to think we are not a traditional family.

I am starting to think I'm okay with that.

I am starting to think traditional schooling is not in our children's future.

I am starting to think our family is being called to do more.

I am starting to think our oldest son, who is ten years old, is turning into such a caring and considerate young man.

I am starting to think our only daughter has such a compassionate heart that longs to help and guide others in a big way.

I am starting to think our six year old son's thirst for knowledge is going to take him to great places.

I am starting to think our youngest son, who is three, needs to channel his insane amount of energy into helping other kids his age learn the importance of playing outside.

I am starting to think...can you tell?



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busy bee with a heavy heart

We are the bee family.
The bee family has been very buzzzzzy.
Haha, buzzzzzy.....get it!
Bees make a buzz sound.....

OK it's not funny.

Well we have been busy, that is for sure and not at all funny. Well at times it has. It has been tiring, wonderful, exhausting, hilarious, productive, did I mention tiring?

My husband was gone all last week on a business trip. So very glad to have him home. The kids missed their daddy bunches.

Do you ever talk and feel as though no one is listening? Like talking to all four of my children at the same time. Sometimes I feel out numbered and ignored. I get looks of confusion and perplexity. "Mom is that a second head growing from your neck?" "Mom is that a pig flying in the sky behind you?" I doubt that my children are actually asking these questions in their heads, but there are times when the looks on their cute little faces looks as if they might be.

I love my children oh so very much. And I want the best for them. I want to leave a legacy. My heart has been heavy lately with all sorts of desires for our family. As a family we are going to start volunteering once a month in our community. I want us all to know how blessed we truly are and be able to unselfishly give to others.

Our family is purging, simplifying and organizing. We had a garage sale this past weekend and sold clothes, furniture, toys, electronics, household items, baby items and more. We were very pleased with the outcome and got to know neighbors we never even met before!

What's up with all the birthday parties? Since school started we have had at least one birthday party to go to every weekend. My new favorite gift to give. Sonic gift cards. $5 bucks buys a kid a meal. Love it!  

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