Zoo Day

I think this was our favorite place, I think. LOL

Kids LOVED the dolphin show....came home and immediately mimicked them :)

Petting the goats

The group waiting on the train

The first roller coaster ride for several in our group....they loved it!!

Random Pictures following:

Our kids were soooo excited to be going to the zoo and all had their sunglasses on top of their heads :)

The weather was perfect

More New Happenings

Another year has begun and another baby started Kindergarten this year. Here are some of her pictures :) Hard to believe how fast time flies!! She is LOVING it!!!

In my Restlessness

Today I awoke with a feeling of restlessness and other emotions. Just wondering what is going to happen in my future and the future of my family. Feelings of excitement mixed with fear amerge sometimes, so it is good to know in whom I trust and to know that God is on my side.

Here is the song I read this morning that ministered to me.

BE STILL MY SOUL

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; they best, they heav'nly Friend
Thro' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still my sou; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be stil, my soul; the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever witht he Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Wonderful Life Lessons

Today was a busy day. I watched 3 extra kids this morning for a while, then my sister and I took the kids to the park in town. It was fun!! We got to go in the petting zoo and then they played on the playground for awhile. It was amusing to hear the girls talking how "not fun" the park was because they would much rather go swimming in the new swimming pool we bought. :) Any other time they would be jumping for joy to go to TPA park.

We came home and I had a ton of dishes to do. My dishwasher went on the blink so I had take them out and wash all of them by hand. I hadn't done that in a long time. The kids and I worked a long time getting all of them done. I guess that was a good lesson time for them. It is good to know how to do dishes by hand. I think I am spoiled!!! :) I am going to miss that dishwasher! :'(

Tonight we plan to take the younguns fishing. It is a fun thing to do as a family and soooo relaxing. We really enjoy it.

Now to go get some icing made for my last graduation cake. What a busy, busy day!!!

Happiness Is:

Reading the "Be Happy Attitudes" by Robert Schuller, he talked about seeing our problems as possibilities. I wias so blessed while reading this.
He says, "To Jesus the whole world was jammed, pregnant, loaded, bulging with untapped, undiscovered, undetected POSSIBILITIES! Jesus really believed in the supreme possibilities!

Man can be born again!
Character can be changed!
You can become a new person!
Life can be beautiful!
There is a solution to every problem!
There is a light behind every shadow!
Yes! Jesus had an unshakable faith in these ultimate possibilities:
God exists!
Life goes on beyound death!
Heavin is for real!
Jesus was prepared to prove it. Be dying--and rising again!"

Happiness -- that deep inner strength that is made up of courage, faith, hope, and peace. Mix them together, and you have happiness!

Happiness--the courage to hang on in the face of severe adversity!

Happiness--the faith that God will have the last word, and it will be good!

Happiness--the hope that, even though you can only see the shadow, someday the clouds will clear away and the sun will shine again!

Happiness--the quiet sense of self-esteem that comes when you know you have done your best.

Happiness--the assurance that you have been merciful and kind to enemy and friend alike.

Happiness--the quiet assurance that God will be merciful and kind to you, too.

Happiness--the beautifull belief that htis life, no matter how difficult it may be, is not your final destination. Your life here on earth is only a pilgrimage. Heaven--life with Jesus forever--is our eternal destiny.

I CAN CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY -- ANYWAY!!

Wow!! What a challenge!! I am SOOOOO Blessed!!

Gearing up for the End of the Year

Our big Preschooler!! :)

Our 1st Grader

It is so hard to believe that the end of the school year is here already. We had a busy but fun weekend!! Friday we had a birthday party for my neice and it was fun getting with all the family and watching the kids play outside. Mike had to work all night....or til midnight so we missed him.
Saturday evening we had an Awards Banquet for FCA. It was very nice!! There was live entertainment from the Riverboat Ramblers. It was very enjoyable! We enjoyed watching the kids get their awards. I must say, I was very proud of Kendra. She got the most 100's in the lower learning center and the highest GPA. It was 99.9%. She was excited although I don't think she realized what it all meant. :) Daddy and Mommy were very proud of her hard work!!
Abigail is finished with preschool so now she is a big kindergartner. She is really excited about going to Kindergarten next year. It has been a great year and I am very happy with how she has developed this year. She is growing up and becoming a little lady.
I will post a few pictures of the girls. I know you will enjoy!!

Kendra with her awards

Kendra with three of her classmates. One of them had already gone.

Saying their scripture. They did a great job!! I love the motions Mrs Coleman puts with it.

The River Boat Ramblers

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was a whirl, but what a wonderful weekend it was!! I was so encouraged with the Sunday morning service. It was a busy time with class all morning and then trying to sing in the choir too. Thanks to Mrs Angie for sitting in for us during that time. :) I came away feeling so good!! God certainly was with us and I felt His prescence. It was also wonderful to have some visitors that we had invited! I know God is still working in lives!!

We went home to a wonderful dinner with the family. We did an egg hunt with the kiddos. They really enjoyed that!! I will have to post pictures in a little while. I am so thankful that JESUS IS RISEN!!! I serve a Risen Saviour....whose in the world today; still working, ruling, and in control of EVERYTHING. (including our government) I am BLESSED!!

Wow It has been a while

Well blogging hasn't been a Big "thing" for me. It has been a LOOONG while since I have been on. There has been lots that has happened since May. I definately need to keep up :) In August we went camping and in the last 15 minutes on the campsite, Kendra fell backward into the firepit which landed us in Riley for a couple of days. While we were there we counted our blessings as we were there for 2 days versus months and months, like some were. Kendra's burns were pretty minor and healed without infection setting in which we were VERY thankful for. She is doing very well!!

Kendra is in first grade this year and doing very well in school! She loves learning volleyball and is doing great in her studies! We are proud of her!

Abby started preschool in September. She is thoroughly enjoying it!! I can see a Huge difference this year in her maturity level. She loves writing her letters and is learning her phone number and address. It is big stuff! :) She will definately be ready for kindergarten!

Benjamin has really grown and this year has made so many changes. He is talking sooo much! I love it when toddlers get to where they able to really tell you what they are trying to say. They have such cute ways of saying them. We are learning a lot with our little boy.

Now we are headed into the Easter season. I am trying to find something new to demonstrate the "Old and Wonderful" story. I am so thankful for God and His love for us. He chose to send His ONLY son for me. And He takes time to teach us and show us His ways and what He wants from us. He has been teaching me sooo much lately. He is showing me how much He really cares!!