Giggles + Late Nights + VBS + Chocolate Chip Pancakes

= a whole amount of fun and very tired, silly children. It also = a very messy house and a very tired mommy.

VBS is still going on, but many of us are rejoicing that tonight is the last night even though it is the longest of them all. Our schedule changes during this night due to the play that happens, starring Zech Roberson and 3 other 4th, 5th, & 6th graders. He is so excited and I'm sure to snap a few pictures to show off the great talent he possesses. The kids are even rejoicing that tonight is the last night because they a little worn out. A few stragglers are hoping that VBS would last for a whole month (my son), but could you imagine? NO WAY!

Last night when we came home we let the kids put on a movie of Abbie's choice in order to divert her attention from being homesick before bed. Well I think it worked because they giggled and giggled some more and it was 10:30 before the movie was turned off and the sleepy eyes were closed and off to dream land they went.

This morning all of us dragged ourselves out of bed at a very late time. Somewhere between 8:30 and 9:30 all of the children were awake and started playing right off the bat. I asked one of them if they were hungry and chocolate chip pancakes were ordered from all four. Although one of them and myself didn't eat any because our stomachs don't feel all that well. There is a stomach bug going around and I sure hope we don't end up with it here.

We are to have a day of cleaning and movie time this afternoon and hopefully we will be fully ready for VBS tonight (clean up happens after the last kids leave).

VBS in action

This week is Vacation Bible School at our church and it runs from 6:00 to 8:30 every night. So everyone at my house, since it is now Thursday, is very tired. They seem to all be having a great time and enjoying all that they are learning and crafting and singing. Zech is in the play at the end of the week and has been practicing for many weeks now. Isabella and Abbie were able to hold the flags for the beginning day when we said our pledges. Sarah has graduated up to being a helper this year instead of participating. She is helping out in preschool music. She has stated that there are many helpers in that class and they all need to be there because the preschoolers are a handful. More pictures to follow on Friday!

Bicycling!

Okay, funny story and a spoof on me and how out of shape I really am.

I thought it would be fun to ride bikes with the kids around the neighborhood, down to the lake (only about 2 miles from the house), and to the stadium. I usually end up walking (not that that isn't rigorous exercise) but my children end up having to stop for me to catch up and that makes riding bikes for them no fun.

So I saw an add in the Target weekly advertisements that a certain bike was on sale. So I hemmed and hawed over talking it over with my husband because I knew he would look at me as if I'm crazy. I'm mentioned this a few times since our kids have been born, but his look is because I'm not athletic, outdoors, bike riding type! And he knows it. But I muster up the courage to talk with him about it and the speech I would give him. He amazed me as he always does and said "Sure, I'd like to see this." Okay, amaze might be too strong of a word, he was poking fun at me, but agreed anyhow. (Secret to our marriage beside God being in the center is that we always talk over how our money is spent, even on little stuff.)

Off I go on Saturday to purchase my bike. I was so proud of myself. I got it home, rode over to the neighbors driveway and back and then put it up! Yes, I didn't go then, but in my favor it was 101 degrees outside and I didn't think that would chalk up to a great first experience. So I decided to wait till this week.

Opportunity led itself to Tuesday morning and after my morning devotionals, breakfast, and getting the kids ready we set out on my new found adventure. We all brought water bottles, which were put in a backpack on my back! I pumped and pumped and re aired all the tires on all the bikes. (I have an extra kid remember.) And off we went. We started down my street the other way out of the neighborhood (not the quick way). I knew I was in trouble by the time I got to the end of just MY street. My legs were already shaking, tired, sore, and I was very unsure of myself. We went in and out of every col-de-sac which required me to make turns that were deceptive and tricky but I did it. We came to the end of the neighborhood and decided we wanted to venture on into the next neighborhood. We had a water break first and then we rode. I was always behind except when we crossed over the street that led from my neighborhood to the next. We bicycled up two blocks and then my legs said, "What are you doing? This is insane," and they started to rebel. But I pushed on and on and we wound up at our entrance after doing a three block circumference (up three blocks, over three blocks, down three blocks and over again three blocks) and took another water break. All the kids and myself voted to go straight home, no col-de-sacs, no frills, no stops, no nothing, just straight home. And that's what we did, we made it! I made my first bike trip since well lets just say a very long time. My gluteous maximus hurt, my legs and all the muscles associated with them (some I didn't know I had) were shaking like a leaf on a strong fall day. I felt like everything was out of joint, but a smile was on my face. Why? You ask? Because I hadn't crashed the whole way! I was so afraid I'd end up in the hospital! But I didn't, I made it and then as I was putting up my bike and reached for the back gate it happened! The crash! The bike fell on me and literally scratched a deep scratch all the way down my leg and left a bruise to match. But hey, I didn't do it while I was riding my bike!

Gods Angels

I come from the generation where a television show called "Charlie's Angels" was popular. These three women were secret agents for a man named "Charlie" and had to go around the world doing secret agent things. They had their guns and their kung-fu moves and nothing could deter them or get in their way. They always find their way out of a "fix" they were in.

Well I have three girls in my house right now. My neice has come to spend some time with us and yesterday as they were exploring all the wonderful things to do, I came across this opportunity for a photo shoot. They had their weapons and they were defending their own imaginative world from the "bad guys". Their beautiful, their powerful, their trained, and they have their weapons. I call them "God's Angels". The three are on a mission from God to tell the world about Him! They will use force if they have to to tell their mission to anyone who will hear! Godspeed Angels!

Basketball camp and apology!

Good afternoon all! I'm sure most of you have given up trying to check my blog for any new entries as of late. I've been tired, uninspired, and downright lazy and just haven't blogged in well exactly 8 days now. So for those of you who have waited it out with me, I'm sorry, please forgive me. I'll try and do better next time!
Last week was basketball camp. The kids learned all their basketball skills all over again along with new scripture memory verses and the camp theme verse. Sarah had fun this year also because she participated as a staff member for the very first time. She thought helping was awesome and had a great time! Here are some pics for those of you intersted.

Fun in the Sun w/ water!

We have something on Wednesday evenings at our church that is called Wacky Wednesdays! This program involves scripture verses, bible stories, question and answer time and lots and lots of wacky and wild games! The coolest thing the kids think is the prizes they win. Isabella was the only one who remembered her memory verse and won this cool watering hose that shakes, spins, and gets you really wet.

So Thursday afternoon they spent their time (w/out Sarah still) outdoors enjoying the game and getting wet. Yes, I know that is my daughter sporting her middrift but I had no idea her bathing suit was too little until I saw it on her and since we were the only ones playing I felt no need to cover her up any more. Guess we will be going bathing suit shopping soon.

Anybody wanna come play?

Daddy's little girl!

Zechariah is in a play at church for the VBS that will be the last week of June. Because of that I had to stay late at church Wednesday night to wait for him. Well Daddy amazingly so did not have any meetings or hospital visits or anything that night so he took Isabella home.

Zech and I drove home together and was amazed to find this scene pictured above! Isabella was mowing with her daddy. The only motivation for her to do anything is with somebody and if it includes daddy she is there. She loves him beyond anything and well as you can see it works for just about every chore!

She came in from that experience all hot, sweaty, and wanting to take a shower. She also received from the lawn mower a great, big blister on her thumb. In spite of all that, she was grinning ear to ear! Oh what love will do to motivate someone.

God is Working!

Several years ago Henry Blackaby came out with a new study on Experiencing God. In this study you learned that God is always working and our job is to find what he wants us to join Him in and go for it. Well since we've moved into this house it has been amazing to see God work. I must tell you though I don't always see it and this time God really had to hit me over the head with it to do it.

My DH is a pastor for those of you who don't know. One of the biggest gifts he has is to have a relationship with you in such a personal way that you grow close to your pastor. Well our neighborhood is filled with young couples and young kids (younger than mine) and Mike and I are well should we say "older" couple on the block. Many have been drawn to Mike because of his personality and his position and come to him with questions and counseling situations. He has become the "block" pastor! Well that has been going well and he is counseling with a couple who has recently been divorced and trying to help them mend some fences. He has also been able to lead in various talks about the bible. A couple of weeks ago one of the ladies who is young and asian came over "purposedly" to talk with me about coming to our church. She is aware of who Christ is and what He did for us, but it seems to be in her head, not her heart. However she really wants her children and her family to start going to church and realized how serious life and death are because her own father just died back in the Philipines. They have been coming for about a month now and he and the kids are just pumped about all kinds of things and really want to join the church. She wants to but she is afraid of what salvation and baptism mean and not sure. She says she wants to know more about the bible. So she came over one day and I visited with her about salvation and what the bible says and asked if she wanted a bible study. She overwhelmingly said yes, but about that time neighbor after neighbor started coming up and we had a block party that evening and nothing else was said about this except for a few other ladies. Unfortunately I dropped the ball and kept thinking to myself I need to get this started but it wasn't happening. Anyway last night one of the ladies called and said, "When are we going to get this going." So right there and right then God showed me, "I am working you need to join Me here." So thursday we begin our bible study in the book of John covering salvation and baptisms.

Pray for me not to get in the way here and for Him to be the teacher and leader. Pray for Elsa's soul and two other ladies both named Sarah who I'm not sure are Christians. Thanks God for working through me, help me not to be a stumbling block!

A bed fit for a King and Queen!

When I was little I always loved going to older houses that have the original furniture displayed from the time period the house was or the people who lived there. I loved especially the bedrooms. They were always so spacious (because I didn't tour poor people houses except the slaves quarters out back) and the beds always looked so special. You know the kind I mean, four posters, canopy, and a stool to step up into the bed (I adored the idea of stepping up into my bed). Some had special linens draped around the four posters where you could close out everything and enjoy your bed and your sleep.

Mike and I love our King size bed. We love each other but over the years we know how important space is when sleeping. Mike's parents bought us our original King size bed. I thought it was great. It was so big that I felt lost on it for a while. I quickly assumed familiarity with it and fell in love with the greatness of it. We never had a bedroom furniture so it was just on a frame. Then we moved and bought some grown up furniture where we live now. I wanted a canopy bed that was dramatic in all its words that would describe it. Not outlandish, just simply elegant and fit for a King and Queen. Mike didn't want the canopy though so after many, many weeks of bedroom furniture shopping we stumbled accross a sleigh bed that both him and I admired. It is very simply but very elegant in its line. Bought and brought it home and have had it a little over a year now. However we had one problem, the mattress. The mattress starting showing signs of distress and I tried to call the manufacturer or the warranty information but to no avail. I was stuck. By now you can literally trace our outlines as to where we sleep and the middle is always a big hump because no one lays there.

After many years and months of living with this delapitated mattress we decided to pursue the option of purchasing another. Wow were we in for a surprise! There are so many different kinds to choose from, pillow tops, innner springs, seperated innner springs, foam, memory foam, foam and springs and a variety of brand names! Also the question do you buy new box springs or not? So after shopping and scratching our heads and discussing this over and over again we finally found the one we wanted. Mike went and purchased yesterday set for delivery today.

Well they came and delivered it and I'm pretty sure I got the bed of my dreams. No canopy mind you, but I have to use a stool to step up into it. It is way tall and spacious and it truly looks like a bed fit for a King and Queen. Now my Mike is what I call princess and the pea (you know the story with the pea under so many mattresses and she could still figure out there was something amiss among all that) because he is way picky about his sheets and covers and he will be happy over our King sized bed!

(notice it comes up to Isabella's chest)

My oldest is off to camp!

She is going to Mississippi! She is only 12! What am I thinking? I've had these questions over and over and over again in my mind for the last 6 months leading up to this date. The youth leader decided that the usual spot for camp (which is only 2 hours away) is not his thing. He wanted the kids to experience Centrifuge or Missionfuge! So we've been dreading sending our twelve year old daughter off to camp for a while. However, I know she is up for the challenge, she was paired up with another girl her size, her style, and her same interest. We had many trips to the store talking about our attitudes, actions, and more upon this trip she will embark.

Sarah - she is my oldest, falls in line with all the first born traits, her name means little princess and yet she aspires to be queen of my house (I will not abdicate my throne!), beautiful, very serious natured, a leader, a budding artist, loves to play on the piano, and my one that we but heads with quite a bit. I love her completely and somtimes I just laugh out loud when we but heads because she is truly becoming the woman God created her to be. She loves to be right (who doesn't), she loves to voice her opinion, and she loves to be the leader! Hmm, lets think about some possible careers out there . . . lawyer, politician, maybe the first lady president!

Getting serious here, I love her heart. She is amazing that she really doens't seem concerned at all what people say about her. She lives in the world God created her to be in and that is a love for the things He loves and an abhor for the things He abhors! She is such a leader among her youth group and I'm so proud of her. She is always very deeply hurt when other christians live like this world! She has a heart for missions. She is still praying though what God would have her be and where He would have her do His work! She loves God immensly and her knowledge of Him is ever growing. She is Sarah and I love all that she is and what she is becoming!

A little bit of everything!

Well we are doing a little bit of everything! I'm trying to get ready for a garage sale. In the midst of doing that though, I'm trying to clean house, do laundry, keep up with the school we are doing for the summer, fix the computer, run kids to where they need to go, sleep, pray, and have my quiet time with God! I have vowed this to be my last garage sale ever! I don't like garage sales and getting ready for them. It takes forever and all your time and energy even when you don't have the time or the energy.

Also my boy has been gone for 4 days now and I miss him! As you read in a couple of post back Zech escaped to camp. When they go to camp they don't call and usually they don't miss you. However I miss him. Zech is a sweet, kind, gentle, and very humorous young man. He can captivate your heart because he is just so laid back and loves to just be there for you. He is my boy and I miss him. He does come home today and that is why I'm being so mushy because I'm ready to see him! From the pictures of Student Life website though, he looks to be having way fun!

Since our boy is gone and our man is usually working, us girls have been hanging out quite a bit together. Isabella even stripped down to her birthday suit without closing a door because as she said it, "We are all girls here, no need to hide now!" They both won't admit it but they miss their brother too! Sarah will be gone next week and I'll go to missing her as well. Ah, the life of a mother, some days you can't stand them because they keep rolling their eyes at you or they leave their stuff lying around, and some days you just can't get enough of their funny antics, their "I love you Mom!", and their cherub faces! What's a mom to do? Surrender and enjoy the moments you have because they grow up way too fast!

2nd one goes to Camp!

No pics to prove the 2nd camper went off to camp (yet!), but she went yesterday from 1-4 to Volleyball camp! Yes, you guessed it, Sarah ,my athlete, entered the YMCA and practiced, bumped, set, scored, and played scrimmage with others her age and older the game of Volleyball. She even learned a little history. Did you know that the game of volleyball started at a YMCA? She was thrilled to learn that bit of trivia and that she was at the YMCA too!

Volleyball is big here in our town. Most schools have it and our own church has many teams and teams from other churches come and play in our gym! One of the largest events that happen every school year in our homeschool community is volleyball! We had 8 teams set up this year! Sarah's first year to play and she did excellent (we always know she will in sports!) I was so impressed with her skills and learning that whole game!

Way to go Sarah! (2 camps in progress, 3 more still to go!) (don't forget VBS in the middle there too!)

1st camper off!

Today is the day! Zech woke up and sprang out of bed! He was so excited! Off to camp he has ventured and won't return for a couple of more days. He dreamt last night visions of swimming, eating, water games, eating more, learning about choices we make everyday (camp's theme this week), and eating some more! Only six campers left today excited and ready for the adventure ahead (only 5&6th graders allowed to go) and six will make it back home again completely tired and worn out completely ready for their own beds and their own homes.

Summer is here and camps have started!