Fun at the Zoo

I believe that the purchase of our membership at the zoo is the best thing we buy every year for our family. It is so nice to be able to just go walking around looking at all the animals. Darius is so excited this summer about the zoo. His favorite "zoo sister" Jelissa takes him several times a month. I enjoy the time I get to go and watch his face light up. He loves to make animal sound all the time so when he gets to see the animals up close it just tickles him. I love to watch his face light up when he feeds the giraffes. Our greatest memories will always and forever be when Darius grabbed the giraffes lips and pulled them to him. I almost died. It was the funniest thing ever.

I never thought I would be the kind of mother that enjoyed the zoo. The girls and I went maybe once a year when they were growing up. Now I go once a month all year long, and sometimes more. It is interesting to see what a different mother I am to the little kids. I have so much more patience, I just wish I had the energy I did with the girls. You win some you loss some. I'm still learning balance.

Zoo Day With the Meridian Staff

We always have so much fun together

On this particular day David had to work so he was unable to join us :(

Wednesday at the Park

We have so much enjoyed going over to the farmers market on Wednesdays at the America the Beautiful park. They are having concerts in the park from 6 to 8 pm every Wednesday in July. We have enjoyed eating great food, listening to the music and allowing Darius to play in the water. He loves walking around in the water and playing with all the kids. The water is very cold so I decided that I would be the official picture taker and have someone else go in the water with him. We have touch Cynthia's feet in the water but she has let us know right away that she does not like the "Cold" water.

My goal has been to have the kids out of the house doing activities geared toward them a couple times a week. The evenings in the park have been fun for the whole family. David meets us down town and if the girls can they join us too. Besides what we by from the farmers market it is a free activity. I'm always looking for ways to have good family fun, for next to nothing. This is one that I would recommend.

"My Guy"

As the day ends and the kids sleep I sit back and thank God for a great day with my family.
This is the first fathers day without my dad. I miss him which is not something I ever really thought I would say. He is I hope and pray in heaven with My Great God.
When I think about "My Guy" David I feel so blessed to have such a great husband and a great father for my children.
On many days David will work all day long and then come home to a family that needs his attention, things in the house that need to be fixed, dogs needing water, and a wife needing a sounding board about the day. He always has time for his family even when he is tired from working all day.
God gave me the best gift 5 plus years ago..."My Guy" David. I love him more than he will ever know.
My kids are so blessed to have him as their dad.

Nervous Break Down

Well, I have officially started having a nervous break down.

Lakeisha left for California today and will not come home until late July early August...I can not believe I agreed to that.

Jelissa is moving out July 1st to her very own place. I honestly believed she would be the kid I would have had to kick out of the house. She and I have been joined at the hip since her birth. It will seem like a piece of me is leaving. Oh wait a piece of me is leaving. I'm excited for her but will miss her lots. She is my oldest but still my baby girl. She has grown up and I have grown up with her. I was only 19 when I had them and had no clue what I was doing. With Jelissa and I being a lot alike we've butted heads a lot and I have read lots of books to help me along. I am excited to see what the next chapter of our lives will be. Watching our relationship turn from being the one telling her how and when to do things to watching her make her own decisions. I pray God will continue to give me patience as I learn to watch as sometime my baby girl falls and I can't just step in and fix it.

Kristie has decided to go to Ozark Christian College. She will be leaving the 2nd week in August. I will watch the happiest child I know leave my home and embark on the great adventure of college. Although I will be sad I feel the most at peace about this decision. I am watching her turn from a little girl into an incredible women. I have noticed that the decisions she is making are very thought out and she seeks the Lords instruction on them. I'm very proud of her but will miss her more than she will ever know.

My new normal is "Change". I have never been very good at change. I still am not. I am learning day by day. There are moments where I have to will myself to keep going and not sit and cry all day, and then there are days like today when I burst into tear at the very thought of my new normal. I keep telling myself that this change is good. It is what I have been preparing my kids for, for 18 years. I know that in order to grow I need to change...I can't stay still, I must keep moving, but today is a day that I will not go very far. Today is a day that I will cry most of the day. Today is the day that I look back and remember my girls as little girls and not women. Today I don't like the new normal, but tomorrow is a new day. Thank you Lord for new days. Thank you for always helping me though.

Resolutions....In June

OK. So, normally I am not big on setting New Year's resolutions but I have been convicted in so many ways in the past 6 month that I need to write down some goals that I am working on and need to work on. With 5 kids, one moving out, one going to college, one graduating next year, a 2 year old and a precious 10 month baby girl I am in desperate need to get organized!
So here I go I’m putting it out there for all to see. These are just a few of the many things I will be working on the next 6 months. Please feel free to ask me how I'm doing...I’m big on holding someone accountability.

~ Wake before my children, get up and get ready (This is a big one for me)
~ Eat healthy foods, not so much processed or things with added sugars
~ To schedule a time once a month to get out alone
~ Schedule a time to get out once a month alone with David
~ Plan dates with older girls to do something one on one regularly
~ Plan at least one activity to do with my children once a week
~ Go to the library with the kids once a month
~ Read a new book every month
~ Practice signing once a week (using my book or YouTube videos)
~ Take the kids outside three times a week
~ Update birthdays and purchase cards for the whole year and send them out on time
~ Read through the book of John twice before BSF begins
~ Exercise three times a week-(ex: walking, going to the Y, working in the yard)
~ Drink at least 3 glasses of water and work up to 8
~ Memorize scripture at LEAST a verse a month

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NeW KiNd OF NormAL

As I sit down to finally blog after several weeks, I ponder over how different my life is. David just left to go play basketball....Jelissa is house sitting at the Batchelders....Kristie is house sitting for Nikki....Lakeisha is hanging out with friends after spending all day yesterday at Eliches with friends(alone).... and I'm home with two little babies watching Cynthia discover the joy of learning to stand, and Darius playing with his, new to him, Rescue Hero Men.

I have often wondered about God's since of Humor and looking at my life some days I know for sure He has one.

I've loved watching my girls grow up and become women....I love being a mom to Darius and Cynthia....I love being the wife to my very best friend, David....I love working with the kids at church....And I love serving the Lord with all my heart....but there are days when I sit back and think about just how tired I am and whether I have anything left to give. Is this a normal feeling?

AND THEN GOD SAYS

READ WHAT I CAN DO----READ WHO I AM

PSALMS 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul

(I love that part)

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, you rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

(I can't even count the days I've needed that comfort)

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows

( I have so many blessings that my cup does indeed overflow)

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

(This is exactly where I want to be forever)

Now those are words that energize me. Knowing that I can do all that I need to do with God's strength helps me keep going....even when I have days when I want to just go back to bed and give up, God will comfort me and guide my path.

Cherishing every day

Well, the time has come. Darius has let us know that he is ready to be potty trained. While I was changing his diaper this morning he informed me that he needed to go potty. I took him and put him on the potty and he did his thing. :) I look at my sweet baby boy wondering where the days have already gone. It seems like just yesterday that this precious little boy was born. When I say that the time goes by fast I really do know what I'm talking about. With two newly 18 year old graduated twin girls, I know all about growing up fast. So the next time someone tells you that you should cherish the time you have with your kids, it is not a cliche, the time does go by fast.

So, my plan was to take off 2 weeks in the month of June to potty train Darius but he is apparently on his on schedule. So we will go with his schedule and start potty training now. One day at a time....cherishing every day.

Etiquette for Little Ones at Home

I found this rather simple but very good thoughts for Moms and Dads....

Etiquette forLittle Ones at Home

*Say “Good-morning” and “Good-night” to everyone in the house.

*Greet our guests at the door with a smile and “hello!”

*Say “Good-bye” to our guests and help them out the door.

*Remember your manners: “please” and “thank-you”.

*Stay seated at the table until you are excused.

*If an adult drops something, pick it up quickly!

*Protect children - especially babies - who are younger than you.

*When you are eating a snack, offer some to the people near you.

*When people speak to you, look in their eyes and respond kindly.

*When daddy or mommy asks you to do something, say, “Yes,dad!” or “Yes, mom!” and do it right away.

Boy's are very different!!!

I have always wondered whether those with boys were lying when they talked about how different they were then girls. I kept telling myself that they just did not know exactly what they were talking about. If you have a boy and I've ever given you that look "please there not that different" I'm sorry. I have learned in the past 2 years that boys are not only different they are extremely different. Darius is not what you might call a "passive" boy. He throws, hits, grabs, any thing he can get his hands on. He believes that he is the only child in house and that one day precious baby CeCe will just disappear. He believes that the world rotates around him and only him and that we are all here to serve his needs.
So many might be saying well why does he believe or even think such a though and that would be because it's true. This little boy has captured the hearts of almost everyone he come in contact with. In the eyes of his 3 older sisters he could not possible do anything wrong. He just give one of those precious smile and all the trouble is gone.
I tell you all that to lead into one of his latest adventures. We are getting ready to leave our house and Darius walks out of the house wearing his dad's shoes and carrying my purse. I thought he was just so cute. He proceeds to go over to talk to the dogs. I just continued to put the rest of the stuff in the van. I thought he was being way to good so I walked over to see what he was doing. That was when I discovered all my credit cards and driver license in with the dogs. I looked over that there was my very expensive phone in the dogs mouth. It just so happens that our warranty does cover "dogs eating your phone".

Keep Your Fork

This is a great perspective:

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.
'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.
'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.
'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.
The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.. Something wonderful and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.'
The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death.. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Words

Do you edify your husband before others, adding to his value in their eyes? This is especially important to other family members.
I never speak negative about David to anyone. I never want anyone to think poorly of him, but I need to remember that not only are my words powerful but so are my action. I need to remember that the way that I look at my husband and how I treat him is just as important as what I say.

Husband Encouragements

Many times in our marriage life we go on day to day not stopping to thank God for the person He gave us to spend the rest of our life with. I never want to forget that David is a gift from God. I am creating a specific place where I can blog regularly about my husband and all his amazing qualities.

Bible passages that strengthen my role as a wife.
2 Corinthians 4:18 - "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Proverbs 12:4 - "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."

Proverbs 27: 15 - "A nagging wife is as annoying as the constant dripping on a rainy day." (NLT)

Ephesians 5:22 - "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

Philippians 4:6-8 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God , which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In the beginning....

I'm new at this blogging stuff and have no idea where to begin. I want to be able to blog about all the little things that go on in our house on a daily bases. So many things happen and I don't want to forget. I will continue to learn what I'm doing and will be posting pictures soon. My prayer is that I will stay diligent in posting and will continue to see all the little and big blessings that the Lord gives my family.

Welcome!

Welcome to our new little blog! We plan to post lots of stories of our kids, share lots of pictures, and give you a glimpse into our lives. Thanks for reading!