Just Me Being Goofy!

I found this fun website were you can add fun effects to your pictures. This was fun for me! Check out my funny pics!

Too Funny!

What a Weekend Monday!

Frank and I both said last night, Man does it really have to be Sunday night already. :)


We had a fun filled weekend. Our baby boy is trying to walk, he has 2 teeth and keeps falling with all his toys because he wants to stand up with them.


Friday night mom, Natalie, Bella and dad went to the Elm Tree Fun night for Natalie's school. The girls had fun and got lots of goodies! It was nice to just have a night with the girls. Marcus and Aden hung out with Mamaw at home.


Saturday morning me, Mamaw and Natalie got up and went to some awesome garage sales (haven't got to do that in forever). We had lots of fun. Then went home and showed everyone our goodies we had found. That made the kids day. :) Mamaw loaded up and went back home. Dad and Marcus headed down to Springdale for the Ozone Block Party for some games and a concert by The Wedding. They had fun! It was a beautiful day for being outside. When they got home we cleaned up the house and all started cooking for our company! The Keeton's came over to hang out and us mom's talked about our Christian Kids life group! 3 1/2 hours of fun. The kiddo's played outside, played with Elvis and ran all over the house being silly. All had fun!


Sunday we got up and got everyone ready for a late service at church. Had a great service!! Looking forward to God's leading and blessings. Then we spent the rest of the day being lazy at home. I think I took like 3 mini naps. :)

Weekends are always great when you have blessing, friends and family time!

Oh Ya, New Hair Do :)

I also cut myself some bangs yesterday, he he. Totally shorter than planned, but I can go with it.

Many Blessings

This week has been a roller coaster. So much going on mentally and physically.

I have still been struggling with the stomach junk. Went to the Dr. on Monday and he is fixing me up! Lots of prayers and healing happening already! Thank you Lord!

Marcus us still loving school. That is very much a blessing. This child has loathed (?) school from Kindergarten. Actual fighting and all involved in getting him to go and participate. Just years of prayers. They are paying off in God's good time. Middle School of all times (what I thought would be the worst)(on ye of little faith). He is loving it, getting involved in everything possible, going to bed without us having to tell him, getting up in the mornings and getting ready without war. Like I said an absolute blessing!! So proud of him. Also he is going on an overnight Science field trip and has been asking Frank if he could go too. We all just found out yesterday that Frank is able to take off work and go. A blessing as well!! Thank you God for giving Frank a job that allows him to have the family time we have!!

Natalie was a little bummed this week b/c her Cheer practice got canceled due to rain. :( But her school carnival is tonight and we will be having some mommy daughter time to go to that. She is happy about it. She is a pretty happy girl. Not to much really gets her down.

Little miss Bella has had an exciting week. Since she didn't get much while the older kids were getting all their back to school stuff, this week her mamaw gave her some money and she got to go shopping. We got her 2 new outfits that are too cute, and yesterday at Sam's she got a wipe away ABC book. Came home and did almost the whole book. She loves writing and coloring!

And OH Mister Aden. Gettin so big. He is pulling up on everything. Finally got 2 teeth to come through. Loves to JUMP! He will be walking before long. Always very happy. LOVES to be around any of his brothers and sisters. His favorite place is Marcus' room. :)

Just saying Thank you to our Awesome God for all the blessings in my life. Love my life, love my family, love my God!

Sickness is just Sick.

Sick - In poor health, Mentally unstable, disturbed, Having an urge to vomit, In poor condition.

All just sounds so wonderful, RIGHT?!?!

For some reason this word has been a part of my life, well all my life.

As a child I was always missing school because of being sick. When most kids don't get the measels, mumps or chicken pox, you can bet I did. Strep throat, constant sinus problems.

I Hate Being Sick! I am Totally SICK of being SICK.

The only time in my life that I was truely healthy was when I was pregnant all 4 times. Aside from the normal pregnancy pains, aches and weight I was always perfectly healthy.

I have a prayer that I normally pray for my friends, but oddly enough have not prayed it for myself. So today I am saying my friend prayer for myself along with any other friends in need!

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-16 (NIV)

Dear Lord, You know my friend/family member so much better than I do. You know his/her sickness and the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with my friend now, working in his life. Let your will be done in my friend's life. If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, Lord, please help him to see his need and confess. Lord, I pray for my friend because your Word says I should pray for his healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in you to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for his life. Lord, I don't always understand your ways, and why my friend has to suffer, but I trust you. I ask that you look with mercy and grace toward my friend. Nourish his spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort him with your presence. Let my friend know you are there with him through this difficulty. And may you be glorified in his life and also in mine. Amen

I am having 100% faith and believing that this sickness and any and all sickness will stay away from my body. I will have strength and health, and I will know and do the right things with my body to stay that way.

No more junk for me!

Good Griefs.....

So it's offically the end of the kiddo's summer.

I am sad that the summer is over actually. Since the kiddo's went to camp I feel like I missed most of their summer. We did do alot together though. A quick review for the kids.

Lets see......

We lost my grandpa the first few weeks of summer. It was pretty rough on me. The hardest thing, biggest lesson in life for me that's for sure. During this time the kids met cousins they never knew they had. :)

Frank did take the kiddo's camping and we have some good pics from that. They had fun with all their friends. 3 families 7 kids!

We went to Silver $ City, the kids actaully went 2 times, once with grandma and grandmommy. Of course the one time we are not with the kids and Marcus rides the 2 biggest roller coasters ever and we missed it. :( YEA for Marcus though! You Rock!

We went to the zoo. Bella's first trip and she had lots of fun. She thought seeing all those animals was so cool. Actually Natalie also got to go 2 times. Once she went with our life group friends.

We went to the Mid America Science Museum in Hot Springs.

Marcus got to stay a week in Mena with his Mamaw and Aunt Hannah.

We went to the grape festival, which we haven't been to in at least 5 years.

And they both went to Camp War Eagle which they LOVED, AND they went to church camp at Dry Gulch.

So even though it flew for me and I missed them, they are at that age. They had lots of fun and stayed busy. Didn't drive me too crazy. Well no more than I already am. :)

So Marcus and Natalie you definately can't say you had a boring summer or that you never get to do anything.

Mom loves you!!

Rainy Day

Rain, Rain Stay Today

I am SO enjoying this lazy day!

I have been snuggled under my blanket most of the day. The kiddo's have been coming and going. They will go play for a while and then come back over and lay around and mug on me, then off to play again.

This is the life!

Am I missing it?

I want to scream. I am so confused. I feel like I am missing it. Who am I? What am I suppose to do? What do I want to do?

I know why.

I am not listening. I am not giving my whole heart. I feel guilty. I am ashamed. I am trying to do it myself.

I need you Lord, right now today. I am giving it all to you. My guilt, my fears, my sadness, my worries, all of me Lord. I know I can't do it on my own. I know I need you always. I am turning my I's into You Lord. I am broken, I am lost at the moment, I am deaf. I am letting go right now. I pray for you will open my heart, open my ears, open my mind so that I can hear you Lord. I pray for your guidance, love, mercy today. All I know means nothing with you Lord.

I place my children in your hands Jesus. I plead the blood of Jesus over them as they venture into this new year. I ask that they will always remember YOU Jesus.

I place my finances in your hands Jesus. I give these worries to you, because I know you will take care of us. You will show us our real needs and provide for us.

I give you my husband today Jesus. I pray your will and guidance will be done in this life. I ask that you will continually work in his heart Lord.

I give you all Jesus. Love me, Guide me, Lead me Lord.

In your Precious Name,

Amen

What a Weekend Monday!

This weekend flew! I can't believe it's already Monday.

Friday night was pretty laid back, we had dinner at home, cleaned up a little and then went and found another nice park in Bentonville. The kids had fun with dad playing on the monkey bars! So fitting. :)

Saturday morning we were up for breakfast and getting ready to go pick up Marcus' football equip. and meet the coaches and team. Well the 1 hour trip turned into a practice and we were there for 2 1/2 hours. Marcus had fun, did really well, and is super excited about this season. They have 4 practices this week to get ready for a scrimmage they will be having this Saturday at Tiger Stadium. So of course the 4 days a week sounds like nothing compared to this opportunity. We will see if he feels the same way come Thursday. I am thinking he might not be able to walk. We go and meet his teacher tonight and he starts, as I have said a million times, MIDDLE SCHOOL on Wednesday.
Then Saturday night we went to a friends house and hung out, ate dinner and played some Dance Revolution! Ha that is too fun. I am sure we will be investing in that game soon.

So Sunday comes and I am up and getting ready to head to church and the more I am up the more I am thinking man, my stomach is really hurting and I feel really dizzy. Within an hour I am so dizzy I can't see, feel like I am going to faint, and my stomach is in some hard pain. Needless to say we did not make it to church. I was in bed ALL day. Haven't felt so helpless in a long time. Frank did a good job of not killing the kids and not letting them kill each other.

This Monday morning I am feeling somewhat better and the house and laundry HAS to be cleaned, so here I am waiting for the dryer to beep yet again!

Welcome New Week!!

Remember When

Ok, so in my last remember when post I had said that these would be done on Wednesday. Well since I can't seem to keep a schedule for ANYTHING to save my life I am going to do it whenever I decide I have the time. :)

So for today I remember when:

Natalie took a dance class at the fitness center, and she was SO excited! We got the clothes, the shoes and the dance bag and she was set. Well in this class you weren't suppose to go in to watch you could only stand at the door and peek into a window that was usually already taken. So we signed Marcus up for a class and we would sit around the corner from Natalie and wait for them. One day I was just dying to see her and what she was learning (from what I had been seeing at home it wasn't an actually routine). So I stood their behind the other moms looking impatient to have my turn at the window before class was over and peek in. When I did get to peek in I see all the girls in a line dancing. Then over in the far corner I see little miss Natalie over there doing her own little dance watching herself in the mirror. So innocent and sweet. That's my Natalie just going with the flow.....her own little flow. :)

I remember when Bella got to be big enough to have a toddler bed. We were given one from a friend and we sat it up in Natalie's room. For about a month she did so well. She was so proud. Then one night we hear a very faint noise coming from the girls room. We go in there and Bella is asleep on top of Natalie and Natalie can't move. It was so cute. This happened almost every single night for about 2 weeks. We would have to go in and put her back into her bed to sleep. Natalie didn't want her to be moved into another room, but we eventually had to b/c poor little Natalie wasn't getting enough sleep. Now that's sisterly love.

When Natalie was born and Marcus got to see her for the first time. He was such a cutie and so proud. His grandma was holding her when he came into the room and he came over and gave me a hug and we said look what grandma has. He walked over and saw Natalie and kissed her on the head and then went and climbed up onto the sofa that was in the room and said he wanted to hold her. So Frank's mom sit her in his lap and that was it. For almost an hour straight he told everyone that she was his baby and would not let anyone else hold her.

I remember when Aden was born and they handed him to me I was taken by surprise. Almost like a where did you come from. That little angel came out looking like his momma. It was such a surprise. ALL the other babies came out with big cheeks, dark skin and dark hair looking just like their daddy. Little Aden had a little bit of blond hair, big cheeks, light skin and looking just like momma when she was born. Such blessings!

Memories, I am so blessed with wonderful memories!

New Things on this Journey

Oh My Marcus!
Oh my goodness I am in AW that I have a son that is fixing to be in 5th grade, which if you didn't know is MIDDLE SCHOOL. (Screams......LOTS of Screams) I have been praying about this day for about a year now. I am doing as I always do and putting my son in God's hands. Marcus is a fairly good kid. He has a good heart and honestly doesn't know how to really be bad. So I almost feel as if I am throwing him under the bus by sending him to Middle School. He is excited of course and I have faith in him. I have learned over the past few years to give the poor boy a little faith and trust. As hard for me as that is. I do trust him. So this weekend we will go and he will help pick out all the "cool" school supplies, and he will get some "cool" school clothes, and my son will go to his "cool" new middle school and hopefully he will remember his "cool" mom loves him and his "cool" Jesus is watching over him.

And My Natalie!
She started school last week and is loving it. Her NEW venture right now is cheerleading! So cute. Poor kid has never had any cheer, or dance or gymnastics or anything, but has now decided to take this one. She is somewhat girly, but more so NOT so. So for her first night she was being shy and quiet. So cute to see her out there doing all this girly stuff. The instructor looks at us moms and says did that look right? HA....HA HA. Hopefully she wasn't wanting me to give my input b/c I know NOTHING! Poor Natalie hopefully she will catch on and learn well from the instructor b/c that's her only chance. AND soccer sign ups are over. :)

So here's to my oldest kiddo's growing, learning and loving life!

Time to Breath

I am not so much a woman of patience, well for kids yes, but nonsense situations, slow drivers, hateful people, selfishness I am not. This is something I am working on. I have most of my life been a push over. Through my growing and learning I am SLOWLY learning to take time to breath. Count to 10 so to speak. :)
I want to serve God's people in ALL ways, not just the ways that are convenient for me. So I have been doing a lot of breathing lately. When put in difficult situations I have been trying very very hard to breathe first. I have learned even within the past week that breathing is so good. So much better than the alternate. Breathe, Go to God and breathe better!

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Rom 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope
When the KJV Bible speaks of patience, it means to wait with a cheerful heart-

A Cheerful Heart!!

What a Weekend Monday!

We had a GREAT weekend!! As far back as I can remember I have always been one to want to make others happy. I always used to find ways to surprise my mom or my sister after I moved out of the house. I on the other hand have never been surprised. My instincts from growing up were to always know what was going on.

Well as of this past Friday that has changed!! I am HAPPY to say. I actually like surprises more than I ever thought I would. On Friday my Frank surprised me by coming home early. The funny part was that he was in the car and I knew he was in the car and not at work, but he had told me he had to go to another bldg. to do some work. To my surprise not 2 seconds after I hung up the phone he walked in the door. I was SO happy to see him! Then just a few hours later my sister pulls up at my house and surprises me. She wasn't suppose to be here until Sat. around noon sometime.

So we hung out and stayed up half the night talking. Which was much needed and enjoyed!

Saturday again was a very fun day! We got to go run around and go to some resale shops, which we LOVE to do. Found all kinds of good bargains!! Then came home ate some lunch and later in the afternoon took all the kids to the Grape Festival in Tontitown. We were a little worried that it was going to be too hot, or too crowded, or the kids wouldn't want to ride the rides. To our surprise as hot as it was (98degrees) we were having so much fun watching the kids have so much fun the heat didn't really bother us. Bella and Zachary had so much fun riding rides together! Aden and Bella slept 1/2 the time. Marcus rode so many spinning rides he swore off ever going to another fair and Natalie had a blast! I even got to eat Grape ice cream which I thought was pretty good. We went at the best time to b/c they had a special from 4pm-6:30pm that all rides were 1 ticket and we got 22 tickets for 20$! Can't beat that for a fair!

Sunday we were so happy that Hannah went to church with us. She did think the praise and worship was a little different, and that led to her being scared about the service. To her surprise she liked the sermon and even said her pastor had preached on the same thing. It was good for her to see that just because the people look different than she is used to, we all love God and are here for the same reasons.

After church we packed her up and she headed back home and we all relaxed at home for most of the afternoon. That evening Frank walked with the babies and I rode my bike with the older 2 (might I say I haven't done in a while and my booty is sore today).

We had a MUCH needed very FUN weekend!

Remember When

Remembering when the kiddo's where little.......

My mind is more than gone I am sure these days. So many times I want to sit down and remember things and my mind is just blank, or thinking about other things that I need to do. So since I am now a blogger....well I am going to blog it.

I remeber when Natalie was just litte, not even walking yet, she would go into Marcus' room because she wanted to play with him and even though they didn't really play together she would just want to be in there. Her favorite thing to do was open his dresser drawers and throw all the clothes out onto the floor. She would just giggle and laugh.

I remember when Marcus got his first power wheels jeep for Christmas. He slept in the living room with it for like 2 nights.

I remember when Marcus was a baby and he had a big head full of blonde curls. Everyone thought he was a beautiful girl no matter what color I dressed him in. So then dad finally convinced mom to cut it and the curls have never come back.

I remember when Marcus used to get mad because Natalie always had to go where he went. Now Natalie says this weekly about Bella.

I remember when Marcus was about 4 or 5 and he would get in trouble, Natalie would go and try to sit with him in timeout. He never attempted to do the same for her though. :)

This makes my day remembering. I think this just might become an ongoing thing. I think I will call it Remember When Wednesdays! So fun. Now maybe I could dig through the photo boxes and find the pictures to go with the adventures!

UUUmmmm I think I'm freaking Out

** Warning....Kinda Gross Details**

So I have been on this wanting to loose weright kick, well kind of, in my mind anyways. I just haven't been able to get motivated to do it. So a while back Frank had bought me some weight loss pills to try (I have never taken ANY kind before) and I had tried them, but then there was a lot going on and I was traveling a lot and couldn't stay on schedule so I had quit taking them.

Well this morning I get up and say to myself I am starting over and this time I will do it right. So I get my healthy breakfast ready and my pill and take it with no problems, get on with my morning, did some exercies, cleaned some house, went outside to play and BAM! We are playing outside and all the sudden I feel this rush (I thought I was going to throw up it hit so fast). I couldn't figure out what was going on. I felt like I was shaking all on the inside and the insides were about to come out of my body. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I had exercised, eaten breakfast and OOHHHHH taken pills. So I go and get the DIET/CRAZY pills so I can read the fine print and there is says CAFFEINE and LOTS of it. Man cokes have nothing on caffeine. I felt like I needed to jerk my body around so that it could keep up with all the freaking out my insides were doing.

Called Frank and said "I am freakin out man." After his good laugh he said ya that's a lot of caffeine for your little body. Ha Ha Ha

So needless to say I am going back to my old ways and exercise it is for me.

Hopefully. Maybe. HA..HA HA Good Luck to Mom.

Friendship

When I was younger I wasn't that good of a friend. I didn't really know how to be a friend. There is a long road with stories to tell there. Of which I could be bitter and angry. But God has always given me peace and forgivness in my heart. I am happy to say that in my years I am learning how to have friends and more importantly how to be one. I am so thankful for this. I think a life without friends is lonely and sad.

When you find true friends always keep them close to your heart!

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."
- George Washington

"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us."
- Epicurus (341 - 270 BC) Greek philosopher.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
- Mother Teresa

What a Weekend Monday!

Woo Hoo! The weekend flew. It was busy but so fun. Friday night was our last date night to lead. It was so fun and we had some great friends hang out with us. Then Saturday we Served God's people with the church. That was a great experience that our kids got to participate in. So proud for the opportunity. Afterwards we flew :) to Mena for a fun night with family.
I got to go out with Aunt Hannah, mamaw, nana and Merry for a girls night at the movies. We watched The Proposal and laughed ourselves silly. It was so funny and at some points imbarrasing to know that I was sitting there watching those scenes with my grandma and mom. But we really had a great time. Then on Sun. we headed back out to Nana's and had a good breakfast before getting back on the road to come home.

Everytime I am there I wish there was more time to be there and more ways to help. I am very thankful for the time I do have though.