Let's Catch Up!

So, where do I begin? God has been so real to me since the beginning of this year. I know He hasn't changed- I have. I have purposed in my heart to read my Bible more, pray more and just keep my mind on Him more, and it is working. God is so faithful to meet us wherever we are willing to meet Him.

This weekend we had so much fun with Jordan & Heidi. Christiane & I invited some of their friends over and boy, was it wild! But it was worth it because they had such a good time. There were four 7-year olds, a 6-year old, an 11 year old and the 'Old Guy', Gavin who tormented them all! Actually, he is exactly who you want around when you have younger kids. He can entertain them like no other- he has a gift when it comes to kids. When he was younger, everywhere we went, the children we were visiting would cry and cry for us not leave because they wanted to play with Gavin for a few more minutes. We tell him he has a gift for friendship- and he does. He can make a friend wherever he is and it is a gift. We pray he will use it always for God.

We (Larry & I) are leaving in the morning for Pigeon Forge to attend the Minister's Conference. We are so excited, especially since bro. Troy & sis. Robin are going with us. They have never been and it has been so long since we were there that is going to feel 'brand new' to us, too. My Mom & Dad are keeping the boys. They are the best, because I really never ask them- I just call and say, "We are going out of town so I'll bring their clothes!" Isn't that horrible? Yeah, I hope my kids do me the same way. (I think!)

So she gets to put up with Gavin's not wanting to get up. Blow drying his hair forever, insisting on walking home so that he can go to BP and get a cappuchino with the Gang and his doing his homework (if ever) at the last minute. She gets to endure Peyton's OCD ways when he won't let her sign her own initials to his homework sheet because it CLEARLY states "Parent's Initials", his panics over a snack every single day, his now PROMPT (am I kidding, Christiane?) bedtime of 9:30 and asking you at least 4 times "Is my hair sticking up?" before he will walk out the door. Oh, and if you take him to school- he always thinks he is late. I have gotten on to him so much for accusing me of running him late that he won't say that anymore. Now he just asks over and over, "I wonder if they are still in the Lunchroom?"

Oh, have fun, Mom, have fun!!

Let's don't even go to Casey's quirks. I won't embarrass him but he is a load of fun, too. I will ask this question, How in the world can you wake up EVERY SINGLE DAY with only one sock on? Just wondering?

I will miss my boys and my girl, too. I might even (gasp) be ready for a game of Monopoly when I get back. But more than likely, a good Phase Ten run will do me just fine!

I will miss all of that, though and be ready to return, but for today-

I am SO EXCITED!!

Conversations With Peyton

Peyton enters the living room with an apple in one hand and a pop gun in the other.

Peyton: Are you gonna eat this apple?
Me: No
PC: Good (tosses it in the air and catches it) I'm gonna eat it.
Me: Ok
PC: When I was outside playing basketball, I saw the lid to the water meter and I opened it and then I smelled my hand and it smelled just like Possum. DEAD POSSUM! So I washed my hands with soap because soap makes you smell good and there is no telling how many germs were on them leaves and stuff.

He then walks out the door crunching on his apple.

So now I'm wondering how he knows what possum smells like.
And how does this kids' mind work anyway?

I so enjoy reading the blogs of others. As I read them, I always imagine the grand things I will post on my own. Funny snitches from my boys, poignant tales from my marriage or spiritual encouragement from my Lord- alas, when I sit to write, my mind goes blank and nothing of substance is ever posted.

So with this new year, I am renewing my blog goals. I am really, really going to try to post more often and with more 'grit'. So you successful blogger friends, send me some Bloggy Fairy Dust or something so I can do it.

I still haven't decided if I want a journal approach or letter form so today I am going to experiment.

If I were writing a Journal...
Friday, Christiane (my sons' girl friend) got an awesome job. The Lord Himself worked this out for her. She needed a job with decent pay, benefits and good hours and that is just what she got. She is solely supporting herself since her Mother's death thus the need for decent pay, benefits, etc. We prayed for a job with no weekends so that she can visit with her younger siblings. Since I am on the subject, please pray for them. They are doing well, but it is a tough adjustment as I am sure you can all imagine. So that was our good news for Friday.

Saturday, Casey sang in a wedding of two of our wonderful friends. It was a gorgeous Themed Wedding. A "Winter Wonderland". I didn't photograph this wedding and actually got to sit with my husband!! I come home from every wedding that I do photograph and tell Larry how they always make me fall in love again. This one was no different. Seeing young, pure Love is so refreshing. And Casey did AWESOME, by the way. We celebrated Christiane's job afterwards at one of our favorite Seafood Places.

Sunday, We had a great service at our home church and Larry preached at a neighboring church in the evening service. We enjoyed fellowship with our friends afterwards. Larry's sermon was on "Listen". I am often so busy telling God what I want that I forget to listen to Him. I pray my needs and fail to ask God's opinion in my life. Then I get upset when things don't work out. What is my problem? My goal for this week is "Listen". Casey, Gavin & I are reading the Bible through this year. It is so exciting to be doing this with the boys. Each day they encourage me to 'be caught up.' I am so sure we are going to finish the goal, thanks to their prodding. And we all can use some healthy prodding now and then.

This past week also brought Report Card Day! Gavin & Peyton brought home all A's YEAH! Peyton also signed up for the Spelling Bee. Second grade is the youngest you can participate, so I'm sure he won't go very far, but I can't tell him that. He is also going to be VERY upset if he doesn't win. He is so competitive. It is good to be competitive, but we have to work very hard on keeping him level. Speaking of Peyton, I am getting together a post in my head about his unique little ways that I contribute to his being Left Handed. My brother, a lefty expert, says that Left Handed People think differently and I must agree with him on this.

So, I leave you with one of my favorite scriptures, " I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:12-14

Believe.