What We've Been Up To

I have been so, so busy I haven't had time to update my blog to share with you all that has been happening in our family.  We had conferences last week for the three older boys and those went very well.  They are all doing an excellent job!  Jackson got his progress report and that was great as well!  He has come a long way since those first few days of preschool when he screamed and screamed that he didn't want to go.

I have had a big answer to prayer regarding a health issue I've been dealing with.  Hopefully, in the upcoming weeks I'll have time to elaborate more on this.

We are now in the midst of the Christmas Season and our house is ready!!  We are ALL so very excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that the Christmas Season means.



Standing in front of our Christmas Tree




Chad cutting the tree



In a few hours this tree will be standing in the living room looking
 B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

The boys hanging the ornaments

YES~we are THAT goofy of a family!!!  =)

Thankful Heart

A Million Things

If I were to begin a list of all the things I am thankful for it would never get finished ~ I have been so richly blessed!

Thanksgiving is one day a year when many of us stop and reflect on all that we are thankful for. What happens the other 364 days of the year? No matter what is going on in life~even during the hardest times there is always something to be thankful for.  Always.

God has blessed me with an amazing husband. The best years of my life have been the 12 that I've spent being married to him! Together we have 5 beautiful boys that are a treasure each and every single day. We live in a cozy house with hot & cold running water that is clean. We have clothes in abundance and when we run out we have the ability to walk to the other side of the house and do a load of laundry. We have cupboards full of food. We have 2 vehicles to get us where we need to go. We have Dr's that take care of us when we're sick or hurt.  We have an incredible Church where we get to praise God in freedom!!

Oh Lord, the amount of blessings you heap upon my head every single day is something I do not want to take for granted.  12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days a year I am so grateful Lord for all you give.

We are blessed and for every single thing you give and take away Lord, we say thank you.

Our Fun and Fabulous Find

We have been searching for a table to fit our BIG family for awhile now. We cannot afford the $2,000 it would cost for new and even on craigslist on the rare occasion a table big enough to fit our family shows up they still want close to $1,000.

 How cool is it that we paid $129.00 for a table and 10 chairs.  We had to give it a good scrubbing, recover the cushions and live with the fact that it isn't perfect.  However, we LOVE it and it completely fits our needs. (Did I mention how I love the fact that we all finally have matching chairs??)   

Thank You repocast.com!!!

Trust In Me

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Philippians 4:6-7***The Message***

Sometimes this seems so much easier said than done. I am so thankful that our God is so much greater, and higher than ANY other.  God you are HEALER and so AWESOME in POWER.

If you are for me, then who can be against me?  I am putting my hope, faith and trust in you and you alone.

Stepping Into The Water

 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.  About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

**Matthew 14: 24-36 NLT**





While I'm Waiting

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

 * Psalm 27:14*

 

Light Up The Sky

Awesome!!!

Ludington Fall 2010

Wonderful Wednesday

Do you sense a reoccurring theme here? From Marvelous Monday to now a Wonderful Wednesday. Maybe tomorrow could be a terrific Thursday and then fantastic Friday!! Really, I'm just too tired to come up with a clever title! No matter what the day may bring, even if it's a tough day there is always something to be thankful for.  There is always something to give God praise for.

Another beautiful sky God painted this morning!

I love it that I got to begin today looking out at this!

This afternoon was well, let's just say intense! I had to pick up the 3 big boys from school with the 2 little ones in tow so we could head out to the Orthopedic Doctor for Lucas and his broken finger.  Thankfully I packed along a bag of stuff to do to keep the boys entertained while I filled out all sorts of fun paperwork and then proceeded to wait another 40 minutes for the Doctor to enter the exam room. 

Lucas has a break that went all the way through the bone. It's a clean break so no pins will be needed (Praise God). He now has a soft cast on and is not able to do anything remotely active. No ramming around, no gym at school, so basically nothing fun for the next few weeks. The Doctor was in and out of the room so fast I completely forgot to ask him how long this is going to take to heal.  We have another appointment next week. X-rays will be taken to check the healing process.

We are praying for rapid healing and for Lucas to deal as good as he can with the pain and the frustrations he is having with his finger. He cannot get his hand through his coat sleeve as well as many of his shirts. Also praying for some good friends to help him out with things at school (like tying shoes, opening packages at lunchtime). Thankfully he can still write as the broken finger is on his left hand...so he can't get out of schoolwork! =)

He still has that sweet Lucas smile!!

Ouch!!!

Marvelous Monday

The broken finger (pinkie)

BeAuTiFuL SuNrIsE

No showers for Lucas!!!
My BIG 8 1/2 year old taking a bath because we cannot
get his splint wet. He takes up the WHOLE tub!!

My yummy 17 month old, all clean and warm....I just want to SNUGGLE him!!!

Lucas got hit on the side of his pinkie finger last night with a basketball at AWANA. Poor kid~he wasn't even playing, just standing there in the gym talking to his buddy.  So now we get to deal with a broken finger for the next 4 weeks or so. We meet with an orthopedic Doctor on Wednesday to see if they want to splint it differently and just to make sure it is going to heal properly. 

Never, ever a dull moment in this house.  Praise God for that!!!  I wouldn't want it any other way, even on the days when I do not think I have another ounce of anything left to give~God gives me more. HE is the reason I can function each and every day.