This Past Weekend...

This weekend was the Annual Homeschool Convention and I got to go for one morning...it was awesome!! I learned that I have one left brain & one right brain child...can you guess who is what??...LOL!!!! Then I got together with some friends for a time of prayer & teaching and coffee afterwards. Sunday the girls, my Mom, Sis & Aunt Jan went shopping for a brush for my Mom's new haircut and then we introduced my Mom & Aunt Jan to Bare Escentuals...so fun!!! We had dinner at Chipolte...yummy!!!!

Kawai, Chancia, Lee & I at the House Blends Cafe

Mom's new do ...she got it all cut off!!! It looks good and so much easier :) Notice the glow from her BE makeover!!!

Jan after her BE makeover...she also has that youthful glow!!! Love that make-up :)

Daddy's days off...

It was a wonderful couple of days off Roy had off since his 2.5 weeks of training at Marriott. We had a movie marathon Tuesday afternoon with Ace of Hearts, 27 Dresses, & National Treasure 2. They were all good...the girls watched the first one and Madeline watched National Treasure with us. Wednesday I helped Roy weed eat for the first time while he cut...oh my gosh, that is hard work and I am so sore!! I truly appreciate what he does in the yard now:) Later Roy & I played Phase 10 while the girls played in the backyard and then after their bath we all played Disney Scene It!!

The smoothie girls!

Coloring in their tree house :)

One of Madeline's latest creations...a diaper made out of a napkin!! Absolutely the cutest since her Barbie clothes on vacation out of paper towels!!! :)

So Very, Very Sad...

When I heard the news this morning of the great loss to the Chapman Family...my heart really ached for them. Having a daughter the same age as Maria...it really helped me identify with the pain & loss this family is going through...my heart still hurts deeply for them!!!

This event has really caused me to slow down today and evaluate how much time goes by each & every day with my children when not one encouraging word is spoken or a big hug is given just to say "I Love You and I'm so very proud of you"!! I pray that the Lord will allow this tragedy to turn the heads & hearts of many parents...remembering how important it is to keep their focus on the Lord and their family...how much their children need their time!!! Our lifestyles today are so hectic & busy...we rely on tomorrow entirely too much and we can truly see how quickly our families lives can change in an instant. All the things of this world...the material things we all desire...the things that distract us from the true gifts & blessings the Lord has given to each of us...our loved ones deserve our time & devotion. We are all only here but a second...may we all make that time really count and bring Love to our families and Glory to our Lord.

I know the Lord has a perfect plan for the Chapman family and He has a great purpose for allowing their son to endure this pain & loss in such a personal way. The annointing on this young man's life must be incredible with the work he will carry out for the Lord...the hearts he will minister to. I pray the Lord will strengthen this family in a way they have never known yet...and that they would truly have the peace that passes all understanding!!

The Zradio had some great verses on there today...

1. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. ”
   — Psalm 34:18-19
2. 
   
3. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ”
   — Romans 12:15
4. 
   
5. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ”
   — Matthew 5:4

New Addition to the Schoolroom...

The girls & I are super excited to have this old fashioned pencil sharpener in the house!! We have wasted so many pencils from using the manual, hand held kind...they don't work!!

This one was on sale like $10.00 off and you don't have to mount it on the wall :)

Mia doing her handwriting sheet!

Madeline doing a math worksheet!

Graduation!!

Wow!! I can't believe how fast our parenting class went by...we are now Growing Kids Gods Way graduates!!! Although, we have decided to go back in July to take it again...to focus on application of the principles. We would recommend & encourage every parent to take this class :)

Will this playdate count for school?!!

My friend, Michelle invited us over for dinner last night. The girls got to play and after dinner (for most of us anyway) there was a knock on the door....

Sarah finishing up dinner :)

Madeline, as you can see is so excited that I informed her that she had to eat all her veggies or she would be having them for breakfast...:)

Mia was all done having a good time hanging out :)

Right after this we heard the knock on the door and it was the Polk Co. Fire Dept...they were all at the door and invited the girls to come out and look at the trucks. Michelle had baked them a dessert earlier that week and dropped it off. She had said she would be back for her "Pampered Chef stoneware" dish and they said "Oh, maybe we'll bring it back in the truck"...so, they really did and it was 2 trucks that the girls had a ball on for their own private tour!!!!

all three of the girls were so excited they didn't know what to do...

...this was the first truck they got in, so cool!!!

Wow...so awesome...I know I can count this for school...LOL!!!

These could be some future Fire Fighters of America?

This was such a blessing...I think the smile on Michelle & I's face was as big as the kids!!!

This is the second truck...the BIG one!!

This was right about the time the girls started laying on the horn and I was in front of the truck as you can see taking the picture...it was SO LOUD...my left ear still hurts today!!! They did it so many times that a neighbor a good ways down the street came running down the road freaking out that it was in front of Michelle's house!! She said back home they lived in a town with a voluntary fire dept and when they called for help it sounded just like the way the girls were honking...LOL...can you believe that??

This was one of the coolest playdates ever...you rock Miss Michelle...you really made us feel special!!!! Thanks for dinner too...it was awesome :)

Our "special" & unwelcome visitation this morning!!!

Click on the pictures below to see our "visitor"


Here's a head shot!

almost full length...it was pretty long and hard to see in the grass!

I just got out of bed, opened the blinds in the front room and what greets me out in the grass….a snake!!!! We have watched this horrible thing for 20 minutes with its head sticking up in the grass, like a stick someone had stuck in the ground!!! Yuck…I pray it is only a black snake and not a water moccasin…this is what I like least about summer in Clermont!!!

So, we thought we’d share this experience with you all…don’t evaluate by its size…it could have been one 10X that size easy…I can’t stand any of them!!!!!

The good that came from this you might ask…a great lesson about teaching the girls 1) The importance of praying before they go in the yard and 2) Being aware of what’s around them while they are playing.

SO, we are happy to bring you this black & white realization that summer is about here in every way!!!!!

Update: It was a black racer...Praise the Lord!!!

Mother's Day!

We celebrated Mother's Day on Saturday too with Madeline's party.

My Dad had gotten roses and a balloon for my Mom & I...it was very sweet!

Here is the other bouquet! Thanks Dad for being so thoughtful & generous :)

I was blessed with a movie, some cute notepads (just for Mommy only!!) and a pretty angel plaque...thank you Mom, Carl & Darlene!!

This is the tote bag my sister made for me for my birthday...I Love it!!!

Madeline's Birthday !

First thing out of bed when her new LOUD alarm went off was into the playroom to give her pig, Penelope a bath!!!

and of course, the pig gets to eat first!!

Mia had her panda...they are the fur real pets that make sounds...pretty cute :)

Cheesesticks...so yummy!

This was a Mother's Day treat out for me too :)

Little cutie pies :)

This sundae was so good with the warm chocolate chip cookie on the bottom!

Sweet Birthday Girl!

Mia Mae :)

Happy Birthday Madeline!!!

Happy 7th Birthday Madeline!


We are so proud of you sweetie...you are so beautiful, inside & out!! It is such a Joy to be your parents and watch you grow everyday. May God bless you over this upcoming year...may you draw closer to Him and His will for your life!! Keep searching with the hunger you have for His word...we know the Lord is already using you and your sweet spirit!!!

We Love You,
Daddy, Mommy & Mia

Madeline's Birthday Party...

We had a wonderful day with family celebrating Madi's birthday! We made a cool craft...staining suncatchers. We had cake, ice cream and she had many presents to open :)

She is such a dog lover :)

Aunt Dee-Dee & her first born niece!

Family time is such a treasure :)

Talkin & chillin :)

Here are the suncatchers...it was easy, not messy & fun!!

Here's the birthday girl!

Princess Justine :)

Papa joining in on the fun!

Little Sis!

Grandpa & his girls!

Aunt Jan loving the girl time :)

My Wonderful Hubby who I adore!!

Roy grilled awesome chicken for sandwiches...thanks honey :)

Bently Boy!!

Party time!!

Lil' Sim :)

Simba was on the couch...he looked like a mountain goat...tooo funny!!

She is growing up toooo fast!!

I love days spent w/ family!

Silly little Sis, Mia :)

Baby Doctor Barbie

Pony Coloring Book

Daddy & his girls :)

Roy & Uncle Rick

New Watch!!

Sweet card from Mia

These were on her list!!

She saw this online...the bible word search. She got her first full text bible & cover!!

A LOUD alarm clock :)

1st season...these are great!!

More items from her list!!

All her gifts...what a blessing!!

We no longer recommend Sam's cakes...this icing was not good...way too sweet & thick. Publix remains our favorite for cakes :)

Awww...so sweet!!