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Get ready for it..............
Once posted, this will be my three hundred thirteenth post. Wow. No no, hold the applause please. I now will deliver my appreciation speech. I want to thank God for he was the one who REALLY invented the Internet (unlike some politicians claim). I also want to thank my family. Without my family......there would be nothing amusing to blab....er....blog about. =D

Ahem, as I reel myself back to reality and the reason for this post.....

Things are in full swing now. Kids (swinging) from the rafters alongside the brain that my skull used to house. Heh. Kidding. No crime scene tape here. But we have nicely gotten back into the routine, though, and I am thankful. This years transition to fall wasn't nearly as pailful for me as last years; smooth as silk. We've even had more on our plates this year too. That is something to be eternally grateful for. Thank you God. The kids are glad that I'm better adjusted. I was freak-o-Mamma at the beginning of last year. *sigh* Poor Babies.
Ben and I are enjoying college and we're getting gggggggreat grades! YAY! It does start to make one feel like there is much to do with little left over. I remind myself often that whenever we say 'yes' to one activity we are also saying 'no' to another. We're working on making sure we are doing what God's will is for us. Whew. That's really the hardest part.

As I was checking the last of my garden tonight I realized something. There is something endearing to me about fall. With that thought came instant regret for it. I've cheated on summer yet again. Don't misunderstand; I.LOVE.SUMMER. but there is a coziness about fall. That is, if I'm not shivering out'ta my skin. I'm sure that most of this endearment comes from the fact that I'm content. God is good. That is all I need. Whatever comes I am secure because He is wonderful. -Even when the rain falls, even when the flood starts risin'. Even when the storm comes I am washed by the water.-Needtobreathe "Washed by the Water"

Gosh. That got deep. Hmmmm. I must end on a light note......*breath catching in throat* Ben and I are......going to.....the NEEDTOBREATHE concert! OMGosh! Seriously; my heart just stopped for a second. Serious. If you havn't been able to tell, I'm SUPER excited! YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS! That's just a taste of how thrilled I am. Pretty lame huh? Ahhhh, but you can't see my face! Heh-heh. It's elated.

I will post photo's of our adventures tomorrow.

The funny things

I've been trying to really listen to the kids lately. Here are a few funny/cutesy things I've been told or overheard:

Sam-"Have you (Dad) ever read Calvin and Hoobs?"

Es-While we were all singing Home on the Range she stopped and said "Oh. I thought it was 'where the deer and the cantelope played!'"

Joey-While waiting for our movie, Up, to start (it was darker inside the theater), he looked back at Ben and I with a twinkle in his eye and said "This is so romantic!" He was smiling his HUGE smile.

Es-We've been listening to Anne of Green Gables on c-d while driving to school and back. The kids LOVE it and so do I. On the way home she asked "I was wondering. Could I fix your hair tomorrow before you leave (to a Women's retreat)?" She later told me that she wanted to do a bun. Why? Because I have available hair and 'cause of Anne! It'd be too hard for her to do her own.

Zach-While waiting for him to exit the bathroom Ben said "What are you doing Dude?" With disappointment in his voice and down cast eyes he responded "I was killing the fruit flies." I walked over and saw the hilarity. Zachy had been using our spray air freshener to 'kill' the flies.....on the mirror no less. As we were admonishing him never, ever to do that again he was walking up the stairs and we were snickering.

Sam-While at a play ground with a very tall structure he said "I'm getting rid of my fear of heights." He then proceeded to climb, only part way and well below the Twins, up the structure. He ended up touching one of the Twins' shoes.

Ain't life grand? Why, yes. Yes it is.

From the first day of school 'til now

in pictures. Life still rolls along even though we're busier. And kids are still kids.....even with a busier schedule. That is a fantastic thing. Our church is starting a Bible study called "One Month to Live". The introductory lesson was all about learning to "count our days". We are given this moment and I pray I pay attention to each one!

All the kids crammed into their bath brushing.



Befre bed listening to a book on c-d.

A photo I uplaoded.

The undefrosted freezer.

Playing with the freezers 'snow'. "It's like Christmas!"-Sam

9 yo.

Houston, we have a problem. We did not have to cut it loose.

Thank you Lord!

I don't really have time to post but I need to

O.K. There has been much activity at our house lately. Ben and I had our first classes this past week and Wednesday night church started up for the kids again. It's been challenging to juggle the kid's school/house work/Ben's school/food prep/my school/working out. We are just VERY scheduled and say no to alot of extra curricular activities and that's that! Ben has also rocked at helping. The hardest day is Monday. I have class in the AM and Ben needs to leave for his by 5 PM so I'm left to myself with everything (prep for the next day, kids homework, cook dinner, clean and kids in bed) that night (he doesn't return until 9.15).
I've learned that if I don't get EVERYTHING for the next day organized and prepared for, that next day is a HUGE catastrophe. It only happened once and it was only 1/2 a catastrophe but that was enough!
It's actually gone much easier than I thought. Compared to last year's start, this year has been a cake walk! Thank God (and I do often)!
I'm sure I'll have some cute post later......I'm sure. =D

Free To Be Me

It's the 10th song on my playslist and I.love.this.song. The artist is Francesca Battistelli. Her beautiful name matches the song. (Mom tell Dad to search this song at playlist.com. It's the one Es and I were singing when we were painting your bd.rm.)

-

At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream

A war's already waged for my destiny

But You've already won the battle

And You've got great plans for me

Though I can’t always see

-

(Chorus)‘Cause I got a couple dents in my fender

Got a couple rips in my jeans

Try to fit the pieces together

But perfection is my enemy

On my own I'm so clumsy

But on Your shoulders I can see

I'm free to be me

-

When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out

My life would turn out right, and I'd make it here somehow

But things don't always come that easy

And sometimes I would doubt

-

(Chorus)

-

And you’re free to be you

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything

Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring

But You look at my heart and You tell me

That I've got all You seek

And it’s easy to believe

Even though

-

(Chorus)

-

Aren't we, as people, a little scarred and bumped? We're all just trying to do our best and figure this precious gift called LIFE out.

-

Along those lines.....I'm going back to school. Yeah. College. I'm 1 hr. away from taking my initial exam and my heart is pounding. I'm going to earn my ASA (Associates of Arts) to enable me to be a elementary teacher's aid. AND I can apply the time/work that goes into the AS degree to a BA then a MA in Teaching if that's were I'm supposed to go. We'll see. I'm just nibbling on this HUGE bite of AS so we'll see what happens. I honestly don't want to think about more school at this moment. a AS degree is just fine with me!

-

Oh, and Ben's going back too. He'll be earning a BA in Business. I'm SUPER proud of him. So when we can't do a certain activity because we've got to study.....it's not just the kid's!

-

One.Two.Three.Here.We.Go........Cowabunga!

-

Just when you may have thought

I fell off the face of the earth. A miracle happened. I posted. Heh-heh.
We've had a blast making our summer mozy as long as we can make it.

Trying out the 'wheeless trailer' before we left for camping.

At our destination this bug made me scream as I was

unloading Penny.

The new found fisherwoman. (Her's was the largest fish

caught and she wasn't shy about telling her brothers that

fact. Again and again she'd mention it.) ;)


And fisherman.


And fisherzachy.

Sam's turn for K.P. He's having fun, can't you tell?

Our camp at night.


FINALLY. A fisherjoey.



What better than to warm yourself by the fire while camping

in the northwest?

This was this morning. At school. Before I started to cry.

Joey and Zachy are in 2nd grade. Sam's in 4th and Sis is

in 5th. We all had a great day at school; the kids in their

classes and I volunteering.

This was the scripture I read this morning.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Ps. 46:1+2, 10+11

I know it seems like a heavy verse. But it did put things into perspective for me. God. Then I'd start to worry. God. And cry. God.

He is good.

Where, Oh Where, Has My Summer Gone?

Time is looming. Actually, the fall is looming. Right in front of me. Yesterday I got some of the kids school uniforms out; washed them and hung them back in their closets. *blubbering* That's partly when I realised how close fall is. I cannot believe that is just 18, very short, days the kids will be back at school. BOO-HOO! I get choked up thinking about it. Not just that school will start but that I have a fifth, a fourth and two second graders. When did that happen?
On one of our visits to see Ben's family down south I was standing with Ben's grandma (the kids call her Grandma Berta). I was shaking my head as all the kids came scrambling in to dinner one night and I said something like "This is crazy!" Her comment was something like "Yes, and don't expect it to get any better anytime soon." Gosh. How right she is. We then started talking about time, kids and parenting. (What a treat that was!)
In that moment I realised that a part of me kept thinking that things were going to slow down or that they were going to get easier (by easier I mean less demanding). Nope. That's just not how my life is. Training and helping to guide my children doesn't end when they're a certain age. The training just changes. As does my involvement with said children. *sniff-choke-blubber*

*sigh* I knew this would happen. In my head I knew. Not in my heart. I think that in a corner of my heart I hoped to keep these guys small and near. But that isn't the glorious plan of God, is it? He is wiser (and less emotional) than I am. How good God is to give times of preparation to us for the road ahead! I hope I use it wisely.

As the time of school's reconvening gets nearer and nearer, I will cry. That's okay. That's just what this Mamma's gotta do. God help me. I hope none of the kids gets married until they're, like, 30. I'll need time to adjust. ;P

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hears, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

One Load

This post is more to remind me of life lived than anything else.

This one load of laundry=13 shirts, 10 underwears, 9 reg. shorts, 5 athletic shorts, 1 pair of pants and 1 pair of socks. You can see part of my laundry line in the background. I sure hope all the items are dry before the rain hits. That is, if the guy is right about rain.in.August. There should be a law against it.

You're not seeing double

it just....do-do-do-do....The Twilight Zone! Heh. Kidding.

This is my Baby. He's the final Twin by 19 minutes and he was so sad that Zach had lost both his big front teeth before he'd lost any of the same. He was even a little melancholy the other day about it.

Here he is. My Hawkie (Joey's nick-name). I LOVE YOU BUD.

See? If you haven't noticed there's a string tied to my tooth.

3, 2, 1!

Holes, holes everywhere.

One of the first things Joe asked was "Are you going to put the pictures on the computer?" Yeah, Bud. Yeah.

"I'm totally freaked out."

So said Zach. Here is the progression.

He's been wanting his tooth to just 'come out'. Last Saturday

we tried this very tactic. Synopsis; the tooth stayed as did the

string. THAT was interesting. Trying to not pull the tooth but

remove the stubborn string.

Tonight was different. He requested we play Eye of the Tiger.

The rest is history.

Tonight

A little scared.

Zach enjoying Daddy's dance to the song.

Second and final slam.

The end of the evening singing with dry erase markers

as mics to Eye of the Tiger. When I say we ROCK.....WE DO!

Nothin' like singing with a marker as your mic. You should

try it sometime. ;P