Lovely Blog Award

Thank you for this award. A new friend that I have made through blogging, Dani Joy, gave me this thoughtful award. Dani is a missionary wife in Spain. She has a wonderful heart for the Lord, her ministry, and her family. Read her blog here.

Here are the rules:

1. Accept the gift and post it on your blog along with a link to the person who gave the award to you.

2. Pass the award on to other blogs that you enjoy and find to be lovely.

I pass the LOVELY BLOG award onto these old and new likeminded family loving friends that are an encouragement to me:

1. Miranda

2. Jennie

3. Tascha

4. Becky

5. Corey

6. Anna

7. Liz

8. Amy

LIFT Fellowship June 2009

"Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."

Psalm 97:12

This is part of what has been keeping me away from blogging as much as I would like to. The "Precious Memories" LIFT (Ladies In Fellowship Together) meeting is tonight. I have been planning and creating for several weeks now. I am pleased with how it has all turned out. I am really excited about tonight. I hope that all of the ladies enjoy it!

First--the finished cone vases that I have been working on. The attached paper has the theme and verse on it.


I got a dress mannequin and put my wedding dress on it.

We even have an aisle runner with flower petals.

I am giving a shout out to the Dollar Tree. They have some great wedding stuff to play around with!

Every one gets their own diamond ring tied around their napkin.

I plan to post some other pictures of the actual meeting tonight. As I said, I am EXTREMELY excited about it. I have an actual wedding cake coming too!

Keeping My Promise

So, yesterday I promised to load some more pictures on here of our short vacation. Well, I didn't have much time today, but I added these. We were climbing the fire tower on the top of some Mountain.

I will try to add some more tomorrow.

We Are Still Here

I know; I know. I said that I was going to post some more pics on here soon. It takes a little while to add pictures to the blog. It is not as quick and easy as I want it to be. I just haven't taken the time to do it yet.

I am making a promise to do it tomorrow! So, check back on Saturday.

Good Fellowship with Old Friends

It is Missions Conference at our church this week. We have some friends of ours from college here with us, Mark and Amy Coffey. They are representing The Peru Bible College and Vision Baptist Missions. We got to know them very well on the activity center porch at Crown College--that was the place for couples to sit and spend time together. The four of us spent many hours rocking together in those rocking chairs laughing about what was going on at school at the time and talking about our married lives to come and our ministries to come. We also had some great debates about a few other hot topics. We are having a great time --10 years later-- catching up.

Here are a few pictures of our trip to the USS Alabama yesterday. Again, I have a lot more to post of our time with them, but..... I don't have enough time to post right now. Check back again later. Chloe isn't in the picture, because she stayed with my parents. We will have her back home in a week or so.

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We're Back

We had a wonderful time at my Mom and Dad's in TN. The only complaint is that it was too quick and too short. But.... I had to hurry back for our church Missions Conference, which has been very encouraging. We have had great services. I don't have any time to post about our trip right now so, I will leave you with a few pictures. There will be many more to come soon.

We went on a jeep trip in the mountains on Saturday.

They look like they should be on the back of motorcycles. On a jeep ride hair blows everywhere. This is a solution. Check out Chloe's teeth!! Moving to Alabama has been rough on them. :)

One of the many waterfalls that we got to see. We walked across this one.

Playing in a creek somewhere in the middle of the woods on top of a mountain.

One of the beautiful views from the fire tower at the top of the mountain.

Much more to come soon! Check back in a few days!

I will post them as soon as a get enough time.

Vacation Time

It is vacation time! The kids and I are leaving tomorrow to go visit my family for a few days. Aaron can't go with us this time. Pray for me as I travel with all 4 kids by myself for this trip - all 8 1/2 hrs. I am hoping to be able to stop halfway in Birmingham and spend the night with some of my family there. It all depends on what time I leave here.

Obviously, I won't be posting for a little while, but I will have lots of things to post when we get back.

Cades Cove and Dollywood, HERE WE COME!!!

Our Memorial Day

We had a great day of honoring and remembering America's soldiers yesterday. We took some flowers and some Thank You cards made by the kids to a POW from the Korean War that attends our church. We were going to go to the USS Alabama Memorial Park, but the rain just didn't let up enough until late in the day.

We made an unexpected trip to the doctor's office with Justus. His body was covered from head to toe with a rash. He has had a little bit of a rash around his mouth and on the tops of his legs for several weeks, but this came all of the sudden and everywhere. He has two different rashes. The one around his mouth and on his upper legs is a type of eczema that could be on going for a long time. The one that came so quickly is a viral rash easily treated with some benadryll.

We rented a couple of movies and watched them during all of the rain. Then when the rain finally stopped, we went swimming for a while and grilled some steaks.

Our New Pool

We finally just had to say goodbye to our other pool. I never could get it fixed. Emily sent us a new one. YEAH!! So.... here is

OUR NEW POOL!I want to recommend this pool to anyone and everyone considering buying one but can't afford an expensive above ground pool. It is a million times better than the other blue bubble looking pool that we had. The kids really enjoyed the other one, and Aaron and I enjoyed it just to get in and cool off a little. This is one that Aaron and I too will be able to swim in. They are both made by the same company Intex. However, this is a little more expensive, but definitely worth it. This is a 15x48 round pool. It is available at several different big chain stores. It also comes with the ground cloth, the filter, the pool cover, a cleaning net and pole, the skimmer basket to catch leaves, and a pool vaccuum all for $299 at Wal-Mart. Really, if you are thinking about the other cheaper above ground pools....DON'T do it. Aaron and I bought two of those ourselves. We should have saved our money and just bought this one in the first place. It is going to last much longer. You will be much happier with the choice.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS POOL

New Haircuts, Glasses, and a Praise

Today was the day of loooooong overdue haircuts.

Justus always does so well. Today the barber let him play with the brush.

Asher did not get a haircut. He looked through the newspaper.

Abbie was glad to get her haircut.

Chloe did not want a haircut.

But.... She liked it afterwards and looks sooooo much better.

On Thursday Chloe had an eye appointment, and we found out that she needs glasses. We picked them up today.

PRAISE

I told ya'll a few posts ago about my teaching part time at the kids' school next year. I have another praise concerning that. At first, I was being offered a teaching position in the Kindergarten classes. As most of you know, that is NOT my age group. I have my degrees in secondary ed. English and School Administration. All of my teaching experience, other than Sunday School, has been with junior high and high school- most of it being in English classes. I was willing to teach the Kindergarten if that was where I was needed, but I was really wanting and hoping for something different. Anyway, after seeing my resume, they have hired me to teach all of the high school English next year!!!! I am so excited! I am so thankful to the Lord!! They currently have an English teacher, but they want me for next year. The administrator said that he will be talking to her soon. Don't worry, she is not being fired. She is just being moved. I will also be teaching a geometry class. I am a little nervous about that class, because it will be a new one for me. It is one of those subjects that you have to use in order not to lose. I will be doing some extra math studying this summer. I haven't taught any math classes in several years. Anyway, it doesn't matter. I am so thrilled! God once again has provided for our needs and our wants!!

Dessert With Justus

Lick the plate...
Smile and see what is so funny.....

Can't figure it out. Lick the plate some more.....

That was sooo good. Can I have some more, Mommy?

Thank You, Grandmama!

Thank you, Grandmama for the toys and the candy (We miss your candy drawer).

Watch the videos below. Pause the music on the sidebar in order to hear.

UPDATED Special Prayer Request

Dixie Herring is a friend of mine from college. Her dear nephew, Josiah, was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 2 months ago at only 4 years of age. My heart and prayers have fervently and tearfully gone out to them ever since that first day Dixie sent me the message. This has been dear to my heart also because, Josiah is the son of an independent Baptist pastor (Such saddening things are not suppose to happen to families like this. Right? Wrong. It could be ANY of us at any time.), and he is the same age as our dear Asher. Asher is so sweet and such a joy to my life daily. I have taken for granted the health that he has- that all my children have-- and the time that I have with them each day.

Little Josiah went on a Make A Wish Trip to Disney World with his family two weeks ago. On the last day of the trip, Josiah went into a deep coma. This family has had such great faith and dependence on God during this time--a time when so many would blame God and ask why. This Mom and Dad have been such a great testimony to me and so many others. I would like for you to read this last update from the father made after his son fell into a coma and pray for this dear family.

At 3:00 AM on Friday morning the team from Air Ambulance arrived to transport Josiah Lee from Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando, Florida to St. Lukes in Boise, Idaho. Suzie went along with Josiah because the airplane could only accomodate one family member. Little Jason and I followed along on a commercial flight that arrived in Boise only a couple of hours after Suzie and Josiah. Our time at Disney on Josiah's Make A Wish trip was wonderful, but it is good to be back at "the happiest place on earth" - home.

Suzie and I met with the doctors yesterday afternoon after they examined Josiah and ran another CT scan. The doctors told us that Josiah is in a deep coma, and there is no chance of him waking up again. There has been massive hemorraging in Josiah's thalamus. The bleeding within the tumor and around the tumor has doubled the size of the affected area in his brain. With both thalami severly damaged, the 'brain within his brain' has all but been destroyed.We have been encouraged by movement, response to touch, and a flicker of the eyelids during the last few days. However, this activity is because the lower part of Josiah's brainstem in unaffected. The upper part of his brainstem, wherein lies the "soul" or conscious part of man, is damaged beyond repair.

These rapidly growing tumors need a tremendous blood supply to in order to keep growing. But the rapid growth rate means that the blood vessels being formed to supply the tumor are very weak and susceptible to rupture. The oncologist compared it to a hastily constructed refugee camp versus a well-organized and structured city. If we had started radiation immediately after Josiah's diagnosis, this incident could have happened sooner because radiation can sometimes aggravate the tumor and make it even more angry. The doctors informed us that it is very unlikely that radiation could have prevented this from happening.

I do not believe God caused this tumor, but I do believe that with all the thousands of prayers and fastings God is certainly at this point in complete control of Josiah's situation. We felt a tremendous peace about following the doctors advice and going on our trip to Florida before treatment began. Is it a coincidence that Josiah lapsed into a coma on the last day of our trip and only a few days before treatment would begin? We asked believing in faith that God would give us a miracle and perhaps God in His infinite goodness has given us mercy.Unless there are any significant changes, I will not be posting anymore updates except for my reflections of the last month with Josiah. We want to preserve the dignity of our son and honor him in such a way that brings honor to our Saviour.

To the army of prayer warriors that have interceded on behalf our precious child, I am deeply humbled and grateful for the time spent in prayer for my son. Fifty-one days ago our world came to screeching halt while the world for everyone else continued to revolve. And yet so many thousands have allowed their world to come to a frequent stop that they might pray, fast, and weep for little Josiah Lee. This has meant more to me than I can ever express.I have not stopped praying for a miracle. Our compounded problems have not made it more difficult for God to heal Josiah. He can heal with as much ease today as He could have a month ago. But I must also recognize that this could be God's answer to our prayer. On Monday morning Josiah went into a deep sleep. In a tremendous way Josiah is already 'asleep in Jesus'. How my heart and soul longs for the day when we live together with Him!

"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection." (Hebrews 11:35)

Standing atop Mount Moriah, I am still facing a sacrifice that I do not want to make. I look to the thicket, and it is empty.

Those last words are so heartbreaking. I can't imagine being faced with such. Not wanting to let your child go to God, but knowing that he is God's, knowing that you gave him back to God as soon as God gave him to you and now God is taking him home, understanding and trying to accept that this is God's will. How difficult!

Today, little Josiah has gone home to be with the Lord. Please pray for the Herring family.

UPDATE: Here are the father's words this morning after the homegoing of his son.

12:22 AM on Wednesday morning, Josiah Lee was embraced by his best Friend. Ten days ago he fell asleep in Disney World and this morning he woke up in heaven. It doesn't get much better than that for a four-year-old kid. Fifty-five days ago Josiah's journey began. His short life recently touched thousands and some of us were privileged to bask in the warmth of his light for almost five years. Looking out from the balcony of our room in the Disney resort over the splendor of the Magic Kingdom, Suzie commented that the whole Disney trip seemed almost surreal. Last night as Suzie and I were reminiscing about little Josiah I realized our life has been surreal. Josiah lived a "Make A Wish" childhood. One day soon we'll get our wish trip when we're reunited with our little blonde haired, blue eyed boy - 'Siah, my Siah'. "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us... that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

My trials and troubles are small.

I Need Your Opinion

I saw these yesterday on Jennie Bender's My Spot blog. I gathered my stuff and started making them last night. I found this pattern on another crafty blog.
Then I used my scrapbooking scissors and paper to make these. I used gold and silver glitter glue and added the dots.

I holepunched a hole on two sides and strung a ribbon through. But... here is my problem... They are suppose to have a handle and hang kind of like a purse, but I can't hang them like that on the back of our metal chairs. So, I attached a magnet to the back of them. I am now trying to decide what to do with the handle. Here they are hanging on my fridge.

Leave it like this with a bow on the top.

Cut the ribbon and stream a pretty bead or two on the ribbon to add weight so the ribbon will hang nicely on each side. Obviously, I don't have a bead added here yet.

Just forget about the ribbon and go super simple.

What should I do? Or do you have any other ideas? I need some feedback.

Videos of the KIddos

Both of these are from tonight. I was trying to get Justus to say "night, night." Of course, he wouldn't. The other video is of Abbie and her friend singing at the church fish fry. Remember ot pause the music on the side, so you can hear.

Church Fish Fry

We went to a church Fish Fry tonight for our Shining Stars (senior citizens/retired) group from church. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was gorgeous. We all had a lot of fun.

Justus was trying to hit a baseball. He just couldn't figure out the big bat.

The kids played a game of follow the leader.

Abbie and her new best friend Kirsten played horse shoes.

The kids hugging Mrs. Melba. She has really adopted our kids since we moved here.

Half of the group eating away.

The kids trying to eat and keep their plates from blowing away in the warm wind.

Justus loves the older men. He went from one to the other all night.

Abbie and Kirsten sang a special of "Jesus Loves Me" for everyone. I have a video of it. I will try to post it.

Chloe sang a solo of "1,2,3 Jesus Loves Me". My video didn't turn out.

Some of the group singing together in the living room.

Justus is soooo my son. We were loading up in the van, and he had to pick up every single toy before he came to the van.