My Garmet of Praise

Sorry there was no Friday Family Funny last Friday. Just keep reading and we will get there.

Friday morning I was not feeling to "funny", I was feeling pretty down. Travis was gone out of town again and this time he was in Orlando, FL. I was already missing him and getting to the end of the rope (which should have been longer than it was) with being home alone with kids and I get a call from him from Downtown Disney and then I get another call from my In-Laws who were in the mountains for the week-end. So Friday morning, I was having the biggest pity party for myself - poor old me left all alone all the time...You should have been here, it was a big party!

Thankfully, the Lord showed me I had to leave the party and make the best of it and it ended up being a great week-end with the kids. He put on my garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

On Friday afternoon after I picked Samuel up from school we had a celebration supper at Chuck-E-Cheese, celebrating Samuel making 6th grade chorus. There weren't many people there and we had a great time eating pizza and playing games.

On Saturday morning we spent the morning cleaning the house and then at lunch we had a picnic at the park and spent the afternoon playing and taking a long walk in the woods."Help I'm Stuck"

Everything is so green around here now, it is beautiful

Here's the picture of the week-end to make-up from the missed Friday Family Funny. I was trying to get a picture of my three sweet kids and Faith just couldn't wait anymore, she HAD to go potty.

Here they are after we took a potty break in the woods

Faith was at the bottom of the hill saying, "I just can't take another step!"

Poor Little Faith

Once she found this "perfect walking stick" she could continue our walk.

On Saturday evening, our friends from church came over and played while their Mommy and Daddy went out to eat. It was nice to see other people besides the four of us.

Travis got home Saturday evening and all was better.

When I look back at how down and I was and how there are others who are away from their husbands much long than I am, I start to say I have no right to feel so bad and then I am also reminded that God cares about me as much as he does others and that He gives us each the strength go face the times He allows us to go through. I just have to use those times to look to God and to pray for those I know who are facing the same trials.

Awana Awards Night

The kids had Awana Awards Night at church tonight. They have had such a great time and have learned so much this past year. We are very thankful for all those who have taught them.

In other good news, Samuel auditioned for the 6th Grade chorus last week and he found out today that he made it! We are so proud of him!

Strawberries

I went to get strawberries to put in the freezer this morning and they are the BEST strawberries I have ever had! I can't believe how good they are - they are so sweet and juicy.

I have never seen strawberries so big either. When I was washing them I couldn't help think how great they would be covered in chocolate. So that's what I did this evening.

If you are reading this at Upward - I sent them with Travis this morning, ENJOY!

If your interested, the strawberries came from Strawberry Hill USA.

We Won!

Did you read the poem Samuel wrote for me for Mother's Day? It was a for a contest for HisRadio. The first 50 entries were to win a free CD. Samuel checked the mail each day waiting for the CD, I kept telling him I didn't think we would get the CD - but on Saturday I went to the mailbox and guess what was there? THE CD! He was so excited and I am enjoying listening to it in carpool line.

Mother's Day 2008

I hope all the Mom's reading had a wonderful restful Mother's Day. We had a great week-end - DADDY WAS HOME!

We spent the morning running around town and then in the afternoon Travis and I attended the wedding of friends that Travis works with. It was such a sweet wedding. It was wonderful to sit and hold his hand and think back to the moment he and I said our vows. Not to mention we were out with the kids...

Travis led worship at church on Sunday morning, that was another great treat.

Then on Sunday afternoon, Memama and Granddaddy stopped by on the way home from Kentucky and then we had a great dinner out with Grammy and Aunt Amanda for Mother's Day.

Here are a few pictures of the wonderful kids God has given me to be Mommy to.

Did you notice the haircuts? We went to see Sha Sha on Thursday night and Hannah Grace wanted to cut her hair "short", so we cut about 4 inches off; Faith wants to grow her hair out, so we just cut her bangs; and so how Samuel talked us and Sha Sha into cutting his a little different.

A Poem For Mother's Day

My Brunch With Mommy

Hey! It's me Faith. Most of the time you are reading about the funny things that I say. But, today I want to tell you about the fun day I with Mommy. Today, Mommy came to my school to have a Mother's Day Brunch with me. Every morning this week when I woke up I would run into her room and ask her, "Is today the day you come to my school?". This morning Mommy tired to trick me and tell me I wasn't going to school, but I told her - TODAY IS THE DAY...TODAY IS THE DAY YOU COME TO MY SCHOOL - I HAVE TO GO!!!!!!

Just like Hannah Grace's class I met Mommy at the door and showed her to her seat and and gave her the "corsage" I had made her. I had made her a Mother's Day card and a book about her. In my book about my Mommy I said she was 2 years old - I think that is better than what Hannah Grace said and I said she looks pretty when Daddy takes her out on a date. She laughed when she read that and said she hoped Daddy takes her on a date soon.

After my teacher read us a book we went to the Fellowship Hall. I had made Mommy a place mat and painted a flower pot for her.

We sat with my "Best Friend" and her Mommy. That was so fun!

Here is me and my friend saying the blessing.

My teacher read "Love You Forever". Mommy started crying even before my teacher started reading it.

Mommy and I had such a fun time today. She said she loves having time with just me and her. She also said that she loves me and told me thanks for making her laugh all the time.

The Last Two Weeks

I know I pretty behind in updating the blog, I'm sorry.

Travis has been gone for the past couple of weeks. It started with a training session. During that week-end, the church I work for had a Community Fun Day. It was a great day of fun for the kids.

Here is one of favorite pictures from the day. The church I work for has such a missions heart and this just show how they reach out and have fun while doing it.

When Travis returned from his trip on Saturday night, he began leading worship for a revival. We all went with him on Sunday. It was a great day of worship. Then on Sunday afternoon we stayed at a Lake House of a church member to rest. And was it a wonderful afternoon of rest - it came up a rain storm and it was wonderful to lay on the couch and watch (and sleep) the rain hit the water. It was wonderful! After the rain, Samuel headed out to do a little fishing.

The Pastor of the church has two girls that are about the same ages of our girls and the four of them had such a good time playing together.

God really blessed during the week the revival. He was so good to allow me to play for Travis on Sunday evening. I was so great to play for him again - I didn't realize that I missed it so much.

On that Wednesday evening, the kids Awana groups sang in church.

The revival was over on Wednesday night and Travis headed out to Seattle on Thursday afternoon. The kids and I rested on Thursday evening and then on Friday afternoon headed to Memama and Granddaddy's to celebrate an early Mother's Day week-end with her.

I will save those pictures for another post.

Thanks to those who prayed for us during the "eleven day stretch" that Travis was away. We missed him so much and I think he missed us too (we hope he did). We made it - although at one point on Sunday afternoon on the way home it didn't think I was going to make it. The Lord saw us through!

My Mother's Day Bruch with Mommy

Hey, everybody, this is Hannah Grace; I wanted to share with you my fun day with Mommy today. At my school every year we plan a special day for our Mommy's to come have brunch with us. You may have read about mine last year.

I have been so excited about our special day for weeks. I have told Mommy every day for the last week that she had to look pretty. Last night I helped her pick out her cloths and made sure she was going to curl her hair think she did when she went on a "date" with Daddy. I think Mommy was starting to get a little worried about how she looks every day since I was telling her EVERYDAY that she need to wear something pretty to my school. All my friends wanted their Mommy's to look pretty too, one of my friends even told her mom this morning that she had to make sure she shaved her legs, so she would look pretty.

When Mommy got to my school this morning, I met her at the door and took her to her seat and gave her pin that had made and painted. She said that she is going to wear it to church on Sunday. Here is a picture of Mommy and me in my classroom. I also made her a book; I told things about her. I'm not sure why, but when she read that I thought she was 200 years old she laughed.

My teacher read to book to all the Mommy's and my classmates and the we went to have our brunch in the Fellowship Hall.

Once in the Fellowship Hall we sang three songs. When I sing I am very serious and usually don't look away from who ever is directing me, but I was having so much fun!

Here am I waiting to have our special snack. Mommy couldn't believe how much older I looked from last year.

Here I am with the flower pot that I painted all by myself for Mommy.

Mommy and I had a great time together together - it was so much fun for it to be just me and her.

Mommy told me that she loves being my Mommy and that is proud of the young lady that I am turning out to be. She said she tries to be a good Mommy just like the Mommy's that God has given her.

Friday Family Funnies - The Last One There's A Rotten Egg

We were riding along the other day and the girls were having a conversation about who was born first, middle and last. Here's how it went:

Hannah Grace: Who was first?

Me: Bubba.

Hannah Grace: Who was second?

Me: You were.

Hannah Grace: Who was last?

Me: Faith.

Faith: Yep, I guess I was the rotten egg!

Have a great week-end!

Friday Family Funnies - Awana Test

This funny doesn't come from one of our kids, but from one of our music ministers kids, who we love like one of ours.

Wednesday night I was helping out in the girls class of Awana; they were reviewing what they had learning throughout the year. The leader ask, "Does anyone know what a test is?". There were several different answers, none of them correct. Then our music minister's son raised his hand and said: "Testing 1,2...Testing 1,2"

Spring Fun

During Samuel's spring break from school he hit the road. The first of the week went to Kentucky with Memama and Granddaddy. He visited with his great-grandparents. On that Sunday, Grandmom and Grandpop were honor at Clearfork Baptist Church for their years of of service and ministry there. I am so glad that Samuel was able to be there, he came back with so many stories; he spent a lot of time talking with Grandpop about WWII. I pray he will treasure those memories.

Grandmom and Grandpop

During the end of the of his Spring Break he made a trip to see Aunt Kristi and Uncle Eric. He loves his travels and we are so happy that he has a chance to see family and give them our love when we all can't get there as much as we would like to.

While Samuel was away we wanted to do something fun with the girls. So on Friday night we had a Chipmunk Party. Faith heard the word "party" as she was on board. We had chocolate chip pancakes with bananas and whip cream with pecans. And while watching "Alvin and the Chipmunks" we ate potato chips.

We enjoyed the beautiful weather last week with a picnic outside and then fun playing in the yard.

And then, this past week-end Travis had a training session in Charlotte. The kids and I drove up on Friday afternoon and met Memama and Granddaddy at the church. They were able to see Travis doing the job he loves, but the job that takes him away so many week-ends. They were so proud of him and were excited to here the Vision of Upward. Later that night they took the kids home with them and gave Travis and I a night together, it was wonderful. We were able to have a meal out with great friends and I was blessed with a late morning of sleep.

I was so proud of Travis during the week-end. He does such a great job. Sometimes it's hard to understand what he does when it takes him away from us so much. But, he is really good at his job and he loves his job (most of the time, ha! ha!). I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed my husband and our family to be a part of the ministry of Upward!

Thanks for catching up with us!

Family Friday Funnies - Stars Have Gas

This is how it went on the way to take Samuel to school this morning:

Hannah Grace: Mommy, I know what stars are made of!

Me: Wow, what are stars made of?

Hannah Grace: Gas.

Faith: (laughing) Yep, that's what stars are made of, gas. That's why they poot all the time!

I don't know what makes gas so funny to a four year old (not to mention a 10-year-old boy), but the other day I had laid a envelope with money for gas for Travis' car on his dresser and at one point during the afternoon, Faith asked me what it said and I told her it was for gas for Daddy's car.

When Travis got home, Faith followed him into the bedroom and proceeded to tell him, laughing and whispering, that envelope is for gas!

Have a great week-end!

Friday Family Funnies - Hannahtizer

I don't have a funny story from this week, but with the last round of sickness we had, we have been using a lot of hand sanitizer when out and about.

But, Faith doesn't call it hand sanitizer, she calls it hannahtizer.

Cute, don't you think?

Travis caught me calling it hannahtizer the other day; just as he caught asking one of the kids to bring me my pocket-purse, which is what Hannah Grace calls all bags.

I guess I need to be around adults more...

Have a great week-end!