little blessings

I find it funny that when you least expect it, God sends a little blessing your way. This year I only knew a couple of the mom's on our baseball team going into the season. I don't always go to the practices, I mean, the girls don't need to be out there for that, right? So, I am always polite to the other parents, but it just seems that I never really get to know them. This year I told myself I would do better. I started talking to one mom who we will call S. We have SO much in common! She and her hubby even just got certified to become foster parents!!! We went to their son's birthday party and had a great time last weekend. Now, Daniel and I don't have a lot of friends with whom we are close to, a few sets, but you know, a lot of times, I might be really close to the wife, but the guys just don't hit it off or vice versa. Well, this time I think we all get along. They have the son who is Logan's age and a daughter who is Piper's age. They all play very well. We have made some plans for the summer and I am really excited.

Tonight, S brought us clothes for the boys for next fall/winter. Like I won't have to buy any shirts for either boy. I already had jeans! there were church shirts as well and a few sweaters. She also gave me a bunch of shorts and short sleeve shirts for now and a slew of shoes. An extra little blessing. I don't buy clothes much for the kids, I usually swap with others and it has been so helpful with having 5 kids. I love passing things on and getting different things back. I know Missy and I have swapped clothes that have now gone through all 4 of our girls and I have then seen them on one of my friends little girls! I know she passes them on. Kids grow out of clothes so fast that I don't have a problem with hand me downs.

Ok, that got off a bit. I am heading to bed now, we are getting up and swimming in the am!!!

Summer List

I saw this idea in a blog I read, so I am blog lifting it....I think we will add some more as we go, but this is a good start.



1. BaseBall
2. go to the Tulsa Zoo
3. Swimming, Swimming and more Swimming
4. go for walks in the evening
5. make smores
6. eat dinner outside
7. GO Camping
8. Go to Mississippi
9. Go to Florida
10. Go to VBS
11. Hike the Frisco Trail
12. Go Fishing
13. read a book as a family
14. Eat Shake's Custard
15. watch Fireworks
16.Game night once a week(NO TV ON!)
17. go to George Washington Carver's home and tour
18. Putt putt golfing or glow in the dark golfing
19. Go on a picnic
20. Go see a movie
21. Youth Camp/Basketball camp
22. make a flag cake w/little girls help
23..redecorate some of the house
24. Read, Read, Read
25. take naps :o)
26. make kool aid
27. have friends over for dinner
28. make friendship bracelets
29. go to the library
30. have a movie night
31. go bowling
32. ride the trolley
33. go to the drive in
34. go see a play
35. spend the night with friends
36. eat at Freddy's




I didn't put things that we do on a regular basis on here...church and the like, because we know we will be doing that... excited to see how many we can cross off ;o)

summer is ALMOST here!!

I am sooo excited that summer is right around the corner. Baseball is in full swing, the pool opens on Sat. and I am another year older.
Memorial Day weekend was good. We started off by taking Logan's to a friends house to stay the night and then we went to the Robertson's for dinner and hanging out. We left Dawson there and brought Lauren home with us. The two little girls and Lauren watched a movie in the living room and had a slumber party in there. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Sat am we slept in a little and then got everyone around and went and got donuts!(hot, fresh, yummy). We went to a few garage sales-didn't find too much. Did score a new Knex set for the boys...2,400 pieces! FOR $5. I was stoked. a few other little things, but nothing else exciting! Then we went and traded Lauren for Dawson and then got Logan and went to my Mom's to see her-she didn't answer, so we left and went to a few more sales. Then we had lunch at Fuddruckers. Then we went to Target to get swimsuit for Sammy. Found a really cute on. Also found me a cute black one. then to Old Navy for the $1 flip flop sale. Got a few pair for Sammy and then got each of the other kids a suit. Gabi got a really cute bikini :oP it is soo fun! Dawson got a large, but we had to go on Tuesday and exchange it for a medium. Then we went to see my mom and then ran home, got our Bibles and headed to church.
Sunday, everyone went back to church because I was short handed and needed Daniels help. Went to Garfields after and then came home to rest before going to a birthday party for a baseball friend. I really like his mom and I think we have a lot in common. Gabi's teacher Barri was there-she is neighbors with the family! What a small world. We played, talked, ate, talked some more. It was great! hope to spend some more time with them this summer. It is really hard to find places that all the kids are happy when your kids range from 16 down to 4! makes it a bit more of a challenge!
Monday we went to a Royal's baseball game. It was fun. They lost, but it was a good time. we were in the very last row of the stadium! but, when it rained, we did not get wet. The kids all had a good time and I just want to make happy childhood memories for them. I slept on the way home because it was raining and I know Daniel is a good driver, but I get too nervous in that weather. We stopped by mom's on the way in to check on her, then home, showered and bed.
This week is going way to fast, I can't get it all done. Oh well. It is what it is. I love summer and the pool :o) many things to decide over the summer...
Lord help us to stay in Your will.
Please order my days that I may make You proud.

Busy days ahead...

This week has gone by fast so far. I guess staying busy is the reason it seems so. I have a lot going on this week, so not a lot of down time! Base Ball, graduation, work, therapy, dr appts, etc.

I had lunch yesterday with a good friend ;o) Today with a good group of friends :o) I love when I can be me and talk with people about the issues in our lives and they can help me and I hope I can help them. When I was really struggling in Feb, I cut myself off from all my friends just so I could deal with God and me. I feel like I am ready to get back in the swing of life. I hope this is a good start.

I am trying to be better at not speaking harsh words. I have always had a problem with this and I want God to help me with it. I say things and then think, ugh. What? open mouth insert foot. You know what I mean.

I am excited to report that we figured out what is going on with Gabi and her belly. She does not empty her bowel out, so, she is backed up. Poor girl. We are starting a regimen today to help her out. I could see it on the x-ray and I don't even know how to read them! She goes, she just does not go enough. Bless her heart.

I can't believe that Thursday is the last BSF until next year. This year went by way to fast. I think I am going to do the study of Esther with some friends and take Sammy with me. She was given a Bible this weekend(Message)and has been reading it a lot, so I hope this will continue to encourage her.

I want to rearrange my bedroom this weekend, but I doubt it will happen. I also want to paint the computer desk and tv stand black, maybe even my sofa table. I am really excited about the things I want to do in the house!

Well, real life calls, so for now, that is it. Sorry short, but like I said, busy week!!!

BaseBall days

We had a game tonight and we actually got to play! Dawson pitched and pitched a no hitter!!! they won 10-3, so they were happy. It was nice that we finally got to play. When our game was over, the team that was getting ready to play has some of the boys friends, so we were going to watch for a few minutes, well, both teams needed a kid to play, so they asked our boys to play :o) they were so excited. The team Logan was on ended up winning, so he was so happy.

Logan is struggling a little with multiplication tables, so we have to work really hard on 8's and 9's this weekend. please pray for him(me too, because Math is my least favorite subject, so it is hard for the both of us.)

I took so many pictures tonight that I filled my camera card! I hope I got some really good ones!! I am uploading them now. I have to get better at every night doing that so I have plenty of space.

I talked with a woman who is getting ready to be a foster parent and is a Christian woman/mom. It was really nice. Her son is on our team, plus she has a 4 year old little girl. I hope this is a start of a good friendship.

Speaking of friendships, it is strange, I tend to not have many friends who I don't go to church with or BSF with. I mean, I have a few, but how am I going to share God with the world, when I am in a little bubble. I have to get better at this....

Well, it is late and I need sleep, I am going to a wedding in the am :O)

on a down from the meds?

I think Mindy may be right. When i started taking the prednisone, I was on an up. i quit taking it on Sat and I have been so stinking tired I can't stand it. I just feel ugh. no other word to describe it, I just can't seem to get my motivation back. So I have let the wash back up and such, but I am getting it caught up. only one full load left. Now to get it folded and put away. When I get the kids from school today, I am going to tackle it hard core.
i sure pray the storms don't get to bad today. I am ready to have my hubby back home.

more changes

Daniel decided we needed to make changes to the chores the kids do. SO, I came up with a new set of tasks in each room and they will go back to each doing one room all week instead of changing day by day. He thinks it will help them do a better job.

*Kitchen*
Daily---load/unload dishwasher, sweep, clean table and counters, empty trash
M/TH-clean doors on fridge, stove, dishwasher
Tu/F-mop, clean glass doors
W/Sat-clean microwave and coffee pot(the tops/sides)

*Living Room*
Daily-pick up toys/books/etc, vacuum, dust
M/W/F- clean TV screen
T/TH-trash emptied
Sat-put all movies away(in cases, etc)

*Bath Room*
Daily-wipe toilet, sink, mirror...sweep
M/TH-clean bathtub
Tu/F-empty trash, mop
W/Sat-clean toilet(inside)

everyone...
*Bed Rooms*
Daily-make bed, put clothes away, pick up floor
M/Th-empty trash
Tu/F-vacuum
W-straighten book shelf

Have I left anything out? I don't think I have, but you never know...

For the summer, I am also going to make them do daily Bible reading in the am after breakfast and then a rest time after swimming where they can play or read quietly in their bedrooms...

so up, dressed and have breakfast by 9am
9-9:30 Bible Time
9:30-10:45ish(when we leave for the pool) Free Time
11-3(most days)Pool
3-4 fast showers, rest time
4-5:30 chores, free time
5:30-6 Dinner
6-9 Family Time

Now, I know not all days are going to work this way, as we have baseball and other things going on, but at least I have it for a guide. If not, I know I will get crazy and they will too. I am not sure what community service Sammy will end up doing, but I know that I will have to take her to that and other appts as well. We have Youth camp one week, VBS one week and then we will be going on a family vacation to Mississippi/Florida. We hope to camp a few weekends as well. SO I hope it will be a good summer-they always go way to fast. I am not leading a summer study this year either, so that helps! Plus, we only have one baseball team to go to games for since the boys are on one team, so that means we only have 2 games a week! That sure helps :o)

Mother's Day went fine. Daniel had to work and so the kids and I went to church and then visited my mom and came home for lunch. Pizza. It was hot out of the oven and yummy. The kids watched Bolt while I read and then took a short nap. Daniel got home from work and I went back to church and he and 4 kids went to Collide. We had dinner at Garfield's and it was good!(kids eat free on Sunday). Then home for ice cream and bed.

My hubby is such a hard worker and I am so thankful for him. He won't have a day off until next weekend(we hope)so, he needs to get good rest this week!!