i can handle anything and enjoy everything

Christmas break is almost over.  the kids are going back to school tomorrow and Aaron is back to work.  it has been a wonderful holiday season for us all.  sleeping in late is over and routine is calling all of our names again. there is such enjoyment in both spontaneity and routine.  i think it is important that we have both in our lives.  routine brings stability and a sense of security and spontaneity brings a breath of fresh air and fun.

i recently came across this quote from a friend of mine on facebook and it ministered to my heart so much. "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. we are infinitely, eternal spiritual beings having a temporary human experience." i think it is imperative that we come to know this truth in order to keep life in the proper perspective. our life on this earth is so very temporary and i believe that God intended for us to enjoy it to the fullest.  but, it can end in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, so i want to make sure that each and every day is filled with the things that are enjoyable and of the utmost importance.  i do not want to become bogged down with a list of so many things to do and accomplish or such a strict routine that i forget to stop and enjoy the great things about each and every day.  after all, i do not believe that this human experience is about crossing off things on my list or stamping on my gravestone all of my great accomplishments.  i believe it is about experiencing God in deep and intimate ways and enjoying every blessing He has given to me to enjoy while i am existing in this human body.

this human experience should be everything that God intended it to be for all of us. but, i think in order for that to be possible we must really come to understand our purpose on this earth is to know Jesus Christ, live as one spirit with Him and not let the humanness of our lives become what life is all about.  i want to live this human experience to the fullest and i know the only way that is possible is to recognize who and Whose i am and allow myself to enjoy every minute of this temporary experience He has given me to live.  truthfully, when i forget that, the struggles and hardships of this life can bog me down.  but, when i remember that this life is just a time of passing in which i get to grow and learn what is truly important, i can handle anything and enjoy everything.

i can handle anything and enjoy everything!!!!

He is indescribable

amanda and a couple of her friends from church did a dance during the offering at our church on sunday. they were so sweet and did such a great job, i thought i would share it here. hope you enjoy it!

He is indescribable!

you only turn 15 once

last night we celebrated rachel's birthday. this was her year to pick a place to go out to eat with all of her family instead of having a party. she loves wings, so she picked buffalo wild wings. since tuesday is $.45 wing night, we made tuesday be the night we celebrated her birthday. :) with a family the size of ours, that saved us about $35.00 and since the month of may has seemed like it has just been draining the money out of our bank account, every penny saved helps out. we all ate wings until we were stuffed and had a great time celebrating rachel's 15th birthday.

waiting for a table

jacob was loving putting pennies in the machine in the waiting area

a chocolate chip cookie cake was rachel's choice for her birthday

and of course she got cards and gifts

there was a little competition going on

and a little bit of cuteness

you always need a toothpick after eating wings

i think that rachel's birthday was just an excuse to go out to eat and have some fun together as a family. i don't think that we necessarily need an excuse. we can always have fun together, but memories are important and i hope that rachel remembers this time because......................

you only turns 15 once------------we love you rachel!!!!!!

starting the summer with a license to drive

today was the first full day out of school for us. summer has now begun. the kids all slept in today. it felt really good to not have to get them up and let them sleep until they woke up by themselves. i used to love to sleep in when i was a kid and i love letting them do it too.

josiah was the first one awake because he was pretty excited about his upcoming day. he knew he was going to be able to go and get his driver's license today. i can hardly believe that he is going to be driving by himself. it is kind of bittersweet to me. i am proud to see my son growing up and becoming a young man and yet saddened that he is not my baby boy anymore. i think he thinks that the license that he got today is a license to take on the world. he is pretty stoked about it.

and yet grandma rose was letting him have a little piece of her mind with her lecture about a license being a privilege and not a right. i hope josiah listened very carefully.

it is going to be a lot different around here knowing that josiah can just drive instead of having to take him everywhere he needs to go. i hope it is a wonderful summer for him. the first day is looking good for him so far because he is................

starting the summer with a license to drive

 

flowers for memorial day

this morning before the storms blew in and ruined all of our plans for this memorial day, we got a little yard work done. we were supposed to go to the peoria chiefs game, the local minor league baseball team. but, the rains came pouring down and canceled it. we got done with our yard work just in time for the clouds to come rolling in.

jacob kept coming up with more and more places that he thought we needed to plant flowers. i guess that is appropriate considering that it is memorial day. he loves helping his daddy.  i hope that never changes! but i have teenagers and i know aaron had better enjoy it while it lasts.

now playing----all our family favorites

1st showing 9:00pm --"finding nemo"

our first family movie night in our new family/theater room

"come on! hurry up with the popcorn!"

can't watch a movie without popcorn

and ice cream!

 "oh no!! is the fishy going to be ok?"

we loved watching our first movie on our new tv together as a family!

mission accomplished

our garage sale was a huge success! the treasure seekers made their way to our garage and found endless treasure. we made more than enough money to go and purchase our new tv for our family room in the basement. it was well worth the time and effort that it took to get it all together.

we're ending our day with absolutely delicious baby back ribs grilled by my wonderful husband and an evening with my kids learning "how to train your dragon."  it sounds like a great day doesn't it? all in all, i would have to say.

mission accomplished!!!!

bring on the treasure seekers

this is what is going on in our household this weekend!! hoping for lots of people to find much treasure in our garage this week so that we can get some cash to purchase a new tv and surround sound system for our newly renovated basement.

one person's junk is another one's treasure!!!


bring on the treasure seekers!!

happy birthday rachel

it just can't be 15 years ago that my eyes filled with tears when the doctor said "its a girl!" you were just so beautiful!! i immediately loved you so much! time just goes so fast! life has changed so much! and you have grown to become a lovely young woman. i am so proud to be your mom!  one thing that hasn't changed at all though is how much i love you and that you are still "just so beautiful!!!"

happy birthday rachel!!

love, mom

is she a cutie or what?

saturday was such a full day. i was going from the time i climbed out of bed in the morning until it was time to climb back in at night. the morning began with josiah's first baseball game of the day at 10:00 am. then, i had a wedding shower at 1:00, josiah's 2nd game of the day at 3:00, and amanda's cheer recital at 5:00. then, as soon as she was done performing her cheer, we headed over to a friend's house for her 40th birthday party. we finally got home about 10:00 pm, exhausted and ready to climb back into bed. it was a great day though and amanda did great in her cheer. she had a lot of fun and looked so dog gone cute. i just had to share a few pictures.

ready ok

go team go!

is she a cutie or what?
i might be a little prejudiced ;)

now on to high school

friday night olivia walked across the stage to receive her diploma for completing 8th grade. she graduated with a yellow cord hanging across her shoulders representing having made honor roll all year. knowing that she put forth a lot of effort to accomplish that, i was so proud of her.  the hall way of the school was lined with pictures of the graduating class and some of their own memories. we finally found olivia's.

 then we found her....

before the ceremony, they showed a slide show of all those graduating and their reflection to share with their classmates.

the ceremony was a little long for jacob to handle

olivia celebrating with her friends!

pictures with her family 

 

 a very proud daddy

sister

and mom

time for presents

the awarded document

congratulations olivia!!!!!!!!

now on to high school