Josiah! Such a big boy!

Josiah is doing well with his potty training! He knows where and when to go and what to do when he's done. He stands over the flushing toilet hands on the rim watching his accomplishment go down the tubes! Then we all (Mia, Josiah and I and sometimes Daddy) hoot and holler and clap and tell him what a good boy he is.

Now if we can figure out how to get him to do all of this when he has on more than his birthday suit.

Wonders never cease....

When I lay things down at my Lord's feet it is amazing what happens. Several weeks ago I was laying down my self esteem or lack there of. When the gracious one himself showed me exactly what my husband and I accomplish together.

• raising children
• running a household
• two jobs

And suddenly he added homeschool to that list of things that we do together with him and guess what? The three of us are pretty competent.

Now today he adds a new one:

I can function on about 5-6 hours of very broken sleep and handle the busiest day at work I have had yet. Amazing!

Thank you Lord for using me as a vessel. Thank you for giving my boss confidence in me to allow me to see that I could handle what has been dished out to me. Lord I pray that I have handled all of this with grace and dignanty and treated each person involved as you would want me too. Please forgive me if I mishandled the dispatcher last night.

Amazing revelation! I am woman hear me roar! I am on a mission with a vision and a passion.

I can't wait to see what's next and yet I am ready for a nap.

Thank you, Lord.

For libraries, horse-back riding lessons, for women's resource centers, for husband's who are incredibly patient, for children who love you even when you didn't handle the discipline right, for times of reflection, for groceries, for friends, for miracles, for flexible jobs, for mercy and grace.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

My God shall meet all your needs through his riches in glory. Phil 4:19

Thank you for your Word- I don't have to remember everything- I can just look it up.

And most of all thank you Lord for your sovereignty in all things.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance...mature and complete. James 1:2-4

You are blessed!

Lord, I lift some loved ones up to you today.

Lord, I am so very grateful for your sovereignity! I could not function without you oh, Lord. I am so glad that you are ever present, all knowledgable, all able. Lord, your Holy Spirit steps in and gives me words when I have none, gives me actions when I don't know what to do. I have to do my part but even before I come to the end of me you have already started. You have guided me and directed me through every second of every day. Thank you. What is even more is that you do all of these miraculous things for not just me but for everyone else as well.

So I come to you asking for break through, direction, guidance, strength, patience, etc. I ask not only for ourselves but also for the Maag's, the Munger's, the Stuebing's, the Blansett's, Johnson's, the Cameron's, the Peter's, the Sodini's and the McDaniels' and all whom we know and love or whom we have never met.

Thank you that all bills are paid in full; all pantries supplied to overflowing; all physical, emotional and mental pain gone; all health is whole the way you intended; all are restored and refreshed in the name of Jesus. Thank you that each of us will be able to reach out to others and help them in there need. That we would all "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33.

Thank you that: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a futue. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10 I think other versions have the last part different in that it asks that we not cause pain for others.

Lord, I ask your forgiveness for any and all sins that I have committed both known and unknown. I thank you for the priveledge of being your child, wife, mother, teacher, friend, and sister. Lord, I love you with all my heart and ask you to be in everything today.

Daddy Time

Chris and Mia worked together to change the oil in both of our vehicles this afternoon.

Thank you Lord, for Mia's eagerness to learn.

Josiah woke up about 9:30p the other night and we ended up having a very precious memory created!

The whole family playin' around! (from July)

Home School!

Well, we are now in our 3rd week of homeschool! I can't believe it! The book Angi shared with me many monthes ago and her words just a few weeks ago are priceless! She encouraged me that I wouldn't know until I tried. That everything would come into it's own and yet somehow we would grow and change with it.

I'm not sure there were ever truer words spoken! I have with the grace of God changed and molded my unusual schedule to accomodate homeschool most days. Even when I feel I have accomplished little to nothing I know that homeschool was a top priority that day and had been accomplished. Had you told me 3 weeks ago that not only would I be homeschooling but for the moment consolidating my own curriculum I would have laughed and thought you were as crazy as a loon. Now I jump at opportunities to go bird watching, see brand new , 24hour old, baby kittens and anything else I can get my hands on. I was able to take Mia and Josiah on a bike ride the other day and you know what? That would be considered PE or gym! Add that memory to my lesson plans would you?!

Family... it is a many splendered thing! All 6 of us!!!

The girls were here for a visit at the beginning of the summer!

I can't believe it! Bekah (redhead in the back)was 4 when I came into the picture and she has turned 17 this summer! Someone please tell her she can't graduate yet! Jen next to me, turned 16 last Feb. Jen is a sophmore in Midland, MI at the rival school to where Bekah goes. Mia is 5 and loving homeschool Kindergarten. Josiah is 2 and all boy!
Don't tell anybody because it seems like yesterday- but Chris and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary a couple weeks ago!

All of the kids with their "famous" Papa Red!

Red and his wife Nancy helped us escape Katrina in 2005.

Mia and Jen

Mia and Josiah

Bekah and Mia

Jen and Bekah! Their favorite pass time while they were here was taking pictures of themselves. They look more alike than I ever realized.

Girls, we all miss you tons:)