It Has Been A While

Hey blogging world!!! Yes, we are still here. Just really, really busy. We are enjoying school and all the extracurricular activities that come with it. All of the kids are involved in something this year, which is new for us. It was just John Adams, but the girls have found things they want to do also. Imagine That!! We have piano, flag football, gymnastics, and dance. Not to mention the things we are involved in at school and church. I know, I know. Most of you run the same kind of schedule I do, but I must admit that the blog got put on the back burner until I could get this schedule under control. 

We are doing very well and I do hope to update a little more often. I have a tendency of spending a little too much time on the computer if I am not careful. Anyone else have a problem with this? So I am going to get off now and leave you with a few pictures of my sweet children.  

Happy Birthday Riley!!!

Riley turned 7 years old today. I can't believe it. The time has flown by. I know that sounds cliche but it really has. She woke us up at 6:30 this morning (we don't have many more days to sleep in and I am trying to enjoy everyone of them). We sang to her and all piled in our bed to snuggle for just a few more minutes. I don't know if I have ever told her about the day she was born but I think I usually do on the her birthday. Today was no different. She crawled up in my lap and I told her all about it. 

I told her about not knowing whether or not she was a boy or a girl and how excited I was when she was born and she was a girl. I had thought all along we were having another boy but very thrilled to have a girl. I reminded her of where we got her name, Riley Cecelia, and how special it made her. She is such a sweet little girl. She is becoming very independent and very responsible. She is a Daddy's girl but loves being with me, too. 

She came 16 months after John Adams. At the time, I had no idea how I was going to take care of 2 'babies'. I was totally overwhelmed. The first year is a blur but we got through, quite well, I might add. The thing is,I can't imagine life without Riley. God has a way of reminding us that He can do it when we can't and He knows what is best for us. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Father for this most precious gift You have given us in Riley.  

FINALLY!!!

  Ok, I know it has been a really long time since I blogged. This month has been crazy busy and we have been out of town a lot. Camp and the lake. 

  So the Big news is....We have FINALLY gotten a puppy. Can you believe it? She is soooo sweet and soooo cute. She is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and her name is Bella. We got her in Mobile and she is the perfect addition to our family. I don't know if Charles felt a little sad when he read a past blog about a pet caterpillar or what but he suddenly was ok with us getting a dog. Bella is very laid back. She fits us perfectly. She lays in our laps and "sleeps" with the kids, meaning until they go to sleep. We are still house training her so she is in her kennel a lot but we bring her out often and play with her. Riley has made Bella her own. She carries her around like a baby and dresses her up in her baby doll clothes. I will have to show you pictures when I have some. Bella just lets her. It is really funny! Anyway, Riley's birthday is tomorrow and she wants a big breakfast before Charles goes to work. She has the whole day planned out. I will let you know how it goes.

Father's Day

I absolutely love this man. We have known each other since the fifth grade. Hard to believe we have known each other that long. He is a wonderful husband and father. I love how he plays with the kids. He is just a big kid with them. I love watching him sing with Ellie, give Riley piggy back rides, and play golf with John Adams. He loves being with his children and making memories with them. He also loves the Lord Jesus and that is the thing I love the most about him. I love watching him tell our children about God. Being a children's pastor, he can just make the story come alive and hit you right where you needed it most. I love him and I hope he has had a wonderful Father's Day. Happy Father's Day, Honey!
This is my dad with my brother, sister, and me. Can I just tell you what an awesome person he is? My dad has started everyday, since before I was born, on his knees. He knows the power of prayer and we can all testify to that. He loves his grandchildren and loves all of us. Can I also say, he absolutely adores my mom. He is not perfect but does not have a problem telling you when he has made a mistake. I think he is the best. Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!! I Love You.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for these wonderful men in my life. I am blessed beyond measure. Thank you that they love you and love their families. Put your protection around them. Keep them in your most perfect will. May they continue to draw others close to You. Thank you, Father, for allowing me to be apart of their lives and seeing You work in and through them. In Jesus precious name, Amen. 

Oh, What A Week We Had

Well. we have had a lot of fun this past week. It was Vacation Bible School week and we had a blast. As some of you know, my husband is the children's pastor at our church so this is a really busy,exciting week for him. God showed up and we had a great week. Our theme was Boomerang Express. This is the outback of Australia, which means everything is decorated to look like the outback.

This was our verse for the week. It is such a great verse for these kids to know. I think it wraps up the gospel in one verse.

This was our motto for the week.

John Adams, Ellie, our friend, KK, Riley, and our friend, Kyle after the first day. They had a great time but everyone went home and rested. 
Let me tell you what one day at VBS consists of at Calvary. We start with a worship rally. Lots of energy, lots of great music, lots of fun!!! This is the praise team, some of them anyway. Couldn't get all them in one shot.
Our kids worshipping. We had a lot of kids, but it was awesome to see them all worshipping God.
Then we go to our classes. I helped teach 2nd grade. We had 3 2nd grade classes. I taught with 2 other ladies, Becky and Kim. We had a lot of fun together. We had 24 in our class.

We had recreation and snack in a 30 minute span of time. The teachers don't go to rec with the kids. We have our own snack at that time. As good as the potato chips and M&Ms are, we can have a little adult time and really good snacks. Think fruit, cheese balls, Cocktail winnies. Yum! Yum!
We had missions. We talked each day about a different missionary and watched a video. Actually getting to see the missionaries and see what they do was a big help in making it real for the kids. The missions teacher actually goes on a month long mission trip every year. She is great to listen to.
We alos go to crafts. This is also led by a different teacher. They come up with all the crafts and we are there to help and be crowd control.
We also take our classes to music. I love music. It was the first thing we did everyday so the kids still had lots of energy. We learned a new song everyday from our music pastor and 2 ladies. They do a great job! We learned the songs not only to reiterate what we talked about in our bible story but also to do a musical on Sunday night for their parents.
We had 2 mission projects this year. One was filling a box with goodies for soldiers serving our country overseas. Some of them actually went to relatives of kids at VBS. The other mission project was our offering. We collected different items everyday for a different place everyday. For instance, we brought paper products and travels size items one day for the Ronald McDonald House. This is a house families stay at when their child id in the hospital for an extended period of time. Each day was different. This was a great way for the kids to see something tangible and know they are making a difference to someone else.
Sunday night, we had our musical. The preschoolers sang 3 songs first. Riley and Ellie did a great job. This is the first time they have ever done one together.
Then the big kids did theirs. They did great also. Afterwards, we went to our local water park, Water World. I think the kids liked this part the most.

We had 27 kids come to know the Lord this week. It was Awesome!!! Praise God!!! Five of those kids were baptized at Water World. It is really cool seeing all those people gathered in the water watching and cheering as kids are being baptized. Thank you God for letting me be a part of what you are doing. Thank you for letting me see that you are alive and well and you are still working all around me. Thank you for everyone who helped make this week great but it would have been nothing if you had not been there. Amen.

Home Office Spaces

This week, at Kelly's Korner, we are showing our home office spaces. OK. I don't really have a home office but it is so fun participating that I am showing you where we work on the computer and where we keep all of our books. Those are things you need a home office for, right? 

This is our little desk off the kitchen. I use it the most, to blog and check out the weather. It is right beside the pantry, which is not the very best place for me to be sitting for long periods of time, as i love to snack.

All the baskets above the computer came from Michael's. They hold all the kid's artwork (each child gets a basket) and computer paper and the cameras. I like things to have a home and not to be cluttering up everything. 

This is our little photo gallery. It is on the wall right as you walk into the desk area. My children's artwork from school gets to go in a frame for a little while. I try to change them out frequently so every special piece gets a turn but it doesn't always work out that way. If you have suggestions on how to display or even just sifting through and keeping your child's artwork, please let me know in the comment section. 
This is our 'study'. No, we do not study here but we do have a lot of books that live in here. I love this desk. We never use it because I have not found the right chair for it but it is a neat piece. This is the room I hang out in the most, other than the kitchen. I watch TV in here, do my quiet time in here, and take naps in here on occasion. It is kind of an extension to our bedroom even though there is a door in between the two rooms. It is probably my most favorite room in our house. Charles and I fight over who gets to use this room. It is really supposed to be his room, but I can run pretty fast some days.
My napping sofa, or should I say loveseat. Thankfully, I am not a tall person.
I love the fireplace. It is gas and is wonderful in the winter. This is a tiny room so it warms up quickly. This was the perfect room to wrap Christmas presents in this past year.
Ok, we have a lot of books. I love to read. I have not read all of these books but a lot of them. If you know me, you know that I can be found most nights, after the kiddos go to bed, reading. I am reading Same Kind Of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore right now. It is wonderful!!!
The left side cabinet holds the TV. I like that I can have the TV in there but I don't have to look at it all the time. Hope you enjoyed this little journey through our 'home office spaces'. Thanks for stopping by my house. For more great home office spaces, go check out Kelly's blog.

My Children's Rooms

Kelly's Korner is having "show us where you live Fridays" and today we are looking at children's rooms. I love my kids' rooms. We have not lived here for a really long time so they are not completely finished but I am going to show them to you anyway. 

The first room is John Adams'. He is 8 and loves, loves, loves Alabama football- sorry Kelly. This is looking into his room from the hallway.

This is one of two windows. They are on the same wall. I had the bedding and the curtains made by a store here in town. They are great and easy to work with. I hope all this will last for a while.

Can you tell he is a fan?
This football hangs between the windows. It was just perfect for his room. The dresser below is on the wall going out of his room. I am going to have to get something bigger soon. His clothes are getting too big to fit in here.
This is Riley's room. She is 6. She loves pink and I love it with brown. In decorating, my goal is always to do something that will last for several years. This is looking into her room from the hallway.

This is her bedding. I love it. If she starts to dislike it, I think I will put it on my bed. i am sure my husband will have no objections to that idea. it was made at the same place as John Adams'. Although, I did get the toile online but, I don't remember where. I think I just googled pink and brown toile.
I found this lamp and shade at Target. Don't you just love Target? I liked it so much I got one for my other daughter's room as well.
This is the desk Riley got for her birthday. She had been asking for a desk for months. my parents gave it to her. The chair came from an antique store her in town. it still needs to be recovered but I haven't found the right fabric yet.
I found this armoire at the same antique store. It was already painted this color. This is where most of Riley's clothes live. It was the perfect size for the space between her windows.

This is Ellie's Room. She is 3 and her favorite color is purple. Can't you tell? I had already found the perfect fabric for her room and it was not purple so most of her toys are purple. This is the view from her bathroom.
The headboard came from Pottery Barn but the rest is from the same store as the others.  
This little table came from Target. The girls play here for hours. The picture is a painting we got on our honeymoon to Jamaica. We are celebrating our 12th anniversary this Sunday. I never thought then that it would one day sit in my little girl's room but I think it works.
This mirror came this way and I loved it for her room. The dresser came from The Bombay Company. It was brown and lived in our guest bedroom before we had children. It has 4 deep drawers and sits on the wall going into the bathroom.

After 4 miscarriages, I feel abundantly blessed by the Lord to have 3 children's rooms to show you. To Him be all glory and praise.I hope you have enjoyed a look into my home. Thanks for stopping by.

Our Busy Week

We have had a very busy week. I am sure a lot of you have also. I thought December was the busiest month but I believe May has taken its place. Last Friday, as in May 19th, we had Riley's end of the year party. We had such a great time and it was perfect weather. I think that was the last sunny day we have had. 

Riley's wonderful teachers, Mrs. Gilland and Mrs. Ferguson.

That night, I helped give a graduation party for our sweet friend and babysitter, Jesi. 

We went to my parents hunting lodge and spent the night. 

My mom, Jesi's mom, and I went along with 6 of Jesi's friends. We had a great 

time and we didn't stay up too late. Surprisingly enough!

On Sunday, we had Senior Recognition Day. The seniors wear their cap and gown and tell the church where they are graduating from and where they plan to go to college. We have a meal for them after the service. This is Jesi with my children. 

They absolutely love her. Riley wants to be Jesi when she grows up.

Then we had John Adams' ball game on Tuesday. This was the playoffs. They would play 

until they lost. They won on Tuesday and lost the final game on Thursday.

Wednesday was our Vacation Bible School Outreach night. This is when our entire 

church goes out in groups and invites our city to our VBS. We make it a competition

so more people will go out. The group that wins gets a trophy and gets breakfast 

one Sunday morning. Charles is the Children's Minister at our church so this is a big 

night for us.

Thursday was Riley's last day of school. Her last day of Kindergarten. Her last day

at First Presbyterian Preschool. Her last time going to school half a day. It was a 

happy, sad day. She is sooo excited about first grade and 'Big' school, she can hardly 

stand it. I, on the other hand, am sad that her years at such a wonderful place are 

over. Ellie will start there next year but this is the end of preschool for Riley.

John Adams had his Egyptian Feast on Thursday, as well. I picked Riley up and 

immediately headed to Providence. They have been studying Egypt and this day 

they dressed up and had a parade. They are carrying a mummy if you can't tell.

 Let me just tell you, it is not easy finding an Egyptian costume or making one 

up. Maybe it was just me.

Thursday was also Riley's Kindergarten graduation. She had a solo. She did a super

job. I was really proud of her. I was very nervous, probably more so than her. Can

 you relate? Every child had a speaking or singing part. They all did really well. It was 

a little emotional. Oh, did I mention that John Adams' playoff game was happening 

at the same time? If I could have split myself in two, I would have. His game ended 

when her program started. I had to save seats at the church for the friends and family 

that came to the program, none of which could be there early. John Adams' team lost.

I hated so much I couldn't be there for the last game of the season.

Thursday night, after the program, we ate and then picked up a little friend.We had

great expectations that we would surprise Riley with a dog for her graduation gift. 

After considering that fact, we thought better about it and decided to just dog sit and

see how it went. Zoe was so sweet but she is a brittany spaniel and will get bigger

than what we want. So, we had a lot of fun with her and realized we definitely want 

a dog, just not this one. We are on the hunt for a cavalier spaniel so if you hear of 

any puppies, let me know and I will keep you all posted.

We finished off the week at the lake. This was great after such a busy week. My parents

 have a lake place and most of my family was able to go for Memorial weekend. They 

have a two-story dock with a jumping platform at the top. This was the first time John

Adams got up the courage to jump off of it. We didn't make him. He just woke up 

Monday morning. and said this was the day. He walked right up there and jumped off. 

I had totally expected him to start crying or get really scared, but he surprised me.

   Waiting on the rain to stop so we can go back on the boat.

My nephew, Hunter, on the boat. Do you see the sun behind him? Yaaay!!!

We all felt like this at the end of the week. However, I am so thankful to be busy

 with my family. There was a time I would have given anything for life to be this 

crazy. With lots of kids to be busy with. I am at that place and there are many busy

days ahead. Thank you God for giving me this busy life but help me not to get so 

busy I forget about You.