Tuesday...Busy, busy, busy!!!!

We got up early to head to the east side of town to visit the junkyard...we only had to go to two to get what we needed...Praise God for His favor!!! The girls enjoyed watching the forklift pass us in the car a couple times with a vehicle in the air moving it into the yard! While we waited for Roy...they watched a movie on the DVD player...it has been a while since they used that :)

The water pump didn't make it in today...however Roy got a lot of things disassembled to get the old one out. He had to stop...there is a special tool needed to get a certain part off. He will also have to change out the timing belt. So the process won't be simple as originally thought and may take more time ...but I am so grateful he can & is determined to do the work himself...it will save us at least $1500-$2000 ...that is a BIG Blessing!!!

I am really excited to not have a car this week and experience what it is like to live in other parts of the world or what it is like to go back in time in this country. It is actually pretty peaceful to not be running around all over the place or have the temptation to do so!! Plus, I will have so much time to complete all the tasks that have been on our list for so long...I won't be able to run from them...LOL :)

I think this whole thing may be a blessing in disguise...God is so Good!!!!

Day Two: It is sad to see their independence in a way... yet so awesome to see them growing up in the Lord :)

Vacation Bible School!!!

The girls have been looking forward to VBS all year!!! They have the DINO DETECTIVES theme this year...it is really cool!!! They go in the evening so Roy & I thought we had plans to tackle our garage this week getting it cleaned out and in order...the plans have changed with our vehicle situation now...not complaining though, I know it will all come together in God's timing :)

Day One: Mia had the glare from the sun in her eyes and she was so excited to get inside for all the fun :)

Update on truck-
The water pump has been ordered and should be in tomorrow on Roy's one day off this week, he's hoping to fix all of it...he has a lot of stuff to break down and remove to try and get to it! It will be a long day tomorrow...up early to go to the junk yard and find the other parts needed and then back to get started :)

I love you Honey...thanks for working so hard!!! I am praying & believing the Lord will multiply the rest you are getting!!!

Monday: Time with Friends!

Our good friends, Michelle & Sarah came over to hang out! We had a nice day together...we played "Strawberry Shortcake" Go Fish with the girls and Madeline played Life with Michelle & I. Thanks for coming over and bringing the awesome hummus to share :) We love you guys!!

The girls were playing so sweet together and it was actually quiet...we couldn't believe it!!!

Our train engineers...Sarah & Mia :)

You have to love this game...Life...and the many angles you can view it from!! Michelle & I are normally VERY competitive...it was nice to have Madeline playing with us...it was fun and it took the edge off, being in the teaching 'Mommy' mode!!

Sunday...Blessed & Highly Favored!!

We've been driving Roy's truck so we can save money on gas with him taking the van. So, we went to church, Mom's and then home. Later that evening we went to church and came home and I was so tired I didn't stop for gas earlier on my way home. So we took the truck to get gas and go to the store; when we got back Roy noticed it was running hot!! It is now in need of some work...maybe the thermostat, the water pump (we hope not) and we were already having an issue with the headlights and it starting right away (we prayed our way through that one!!)

I was so grateful the Lord lead me to take the back way home from Mom's and not go on the toll roads with a greater chance of it overheating...God is so Good all the time!!!

It is finally out after hanging on for 2 weeks!! We visited our neighbors next door and their family was in town...they both happened to be Dentists (Praise God!) and she noticed Madeline talking about the loose tooth. We told her we were having a hard time trying to get it out...of course, within a minute she had it out and we were ALL so happy!!!

Sweet little Mia imagining the days ahead when hers will be coming out too :)

A Sweet Surprise...

Roy & I were in our room watching Free Chapel (www.jentezenfranklin.org) live online when our incredible girls with their fascinating imaginations walked in. Madeline was Joseph and Mia was Mary and she was caring for Baby Jesus!!!

I love how resourceful they are...their creativity is such a blessing in our lives :)

Wow...I am really looking forward to Jesus Birthday this year, how about ya'll?

What a Movie...it will grab you at any age!!!

My Mom & I went to see this with the girls and it was so good that Roy & I went back to see it!!! This is one of the best movies I have ever seen! It is one of those films that everyone should see and ask themselves which character (viewpoint) do they identify with most? It is very timely and the message also relates to the current times we live in with the economy and the pride & prejudice that is out of control nowadays too. I would love to do a bible study off of this movie :)

Go and see it...ask God to reveal the condition of your heart as you watch it!!!

Catching Up...

Well...we have had a wonderful, challenging, stretching, faith-building couple of weeks and God is so Good!!! I have been home quite a bit...no complaints :) We have been to some of the summer movies, playtime with friends, family in town, dogsitting and preparing for the new school year. Summer is flying by and the girls have VBS next week...they are so excited!!!!

Some extra special fun...having the play tent up while Sarah was over...yippee!!!!

They has a blast together :) Thanks for coming over Michelle and Sarah!!!

Madi's front top tooth has been very loose for over 10 days now...it's still hanging on!! I wiggled on it for over a half hour that night and it wasn't budging and it was becoming painful so I decided to be patient!! :)

Roy has been so awesome to shadow me in the kitchen...I am really wanting to cook and he is a great teacher. What better way to learn than from him on his preferences :) Thanks for being so patient Honey!!! We had cornbread in the Cast Iron Skillet, Baked sweet potatoes, green beans, corn & ham with orange juice & brown sugar on it.

We let our neighbors doggie, Sparky out a couple times one day while they were out for the day. The girls loved having this responsibility!!! :)

One day they will have their own doggie to care for!!

On the 4th we drove to see the Disney fireworks from the car...no messin with the bugs or the humidity! We saw so many going up all over on the way home...it seemed like everyone really went out with the fireworks this year, what a treat!!!

Here's one shot that wasn't blurry :)

Anniversary Plans: Day Two

In the morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet and then Roy took the kids into the pool for a little bit...

Madeline was swimming like a manatee rolling under the water...this was something new that she showed me! Now if I can just convince her to take a breath of air before going back to the wall...makes me so nervous!!!! :)

Roy attempted to refresh Mia about resting on her back...she had no part in it though :)

She loves the water...now we just need to get her comfortable swimming again...I think it will be more lessons again!!!

Daddy made her go to the wall and she was not happy at all!!!
I am believing she will be over this fear by the end of summer...swimming like a fish in Jesus name!!! :)

Such fun time to spend together :)

Playing at the steps :)

We took the longer, scenic route home and went through a couple towns we hadn't been through before...it was a nice drive!

This is a german bakery we stopped at to have a treat before home :)

This was some kind of cheesecake...it was good!

The girls shared an eclair...they were only interested in the chocolate icing on top though :)

This was part of a mural on the wall outside on the patio...I loved it!!!

This was a cute little country post office I had to get a pic of!!

Our Anniversary Plans...Day One

We decided at the last moment to get away for the night and take advantage of Roy's benefits with our Anniversary money. We went to stay at a Residence Inn by Marriott (North of Tampa). On the way, we met My grandfather and Aunt/Uncle at Cracker Barrel for a wonderful meal with lots of fun & laughter!! Thanks Papa for treating us all :)

Papa talking on my pink phone...LOL!!!

Uncle Rick & Aunt Jan :)

All the girls were having fun shopping and trying a few things on... Simply Beautiful Jan!!!

Cowgirl Cuties :)

I'm not used to wearing hats of this sort :)

Rocking away on a on a summer day...we're not in the blue Gator rockers by choice...the guys were already occupying the other ones :)

Roy & Rick...engulfed in fishing talk!

Papa with his great-granddaughters :)

This is the hotel...opened in February 2008...it was so nice!!!

I always seem to get a shot of them in the hallway!

This is the one bedroom we were supposed to be in with a king, sleeper sofa & full kitchen...until we noticed some ants that is!! They were so gracious to move us...wait until you see what they moved us into... :)

This would have been our room with the king...

...the girls would have been on this sleeper sofa!

We were so thrilled to have a homey room with more than just two beds and maybe a table!!!

Down in the lobby on our way to the managers reception the girls had fun in front of this huge mirror. The reception on Tue-Thur evenings caters with complimentary food & drinks. We had already eaten so we decided to have a drink and found out that we are not drinkers anymore...not even social evidently!! Roy had a beer and I had a glass of wine...it was free...later we both were like...why did we do that?? Our bodies don't respond well to the alcohol anymore...what was the point to now feel so yucky?? Oh well, one less temptation to have to deal with :) It is so cool to see how the Lord transforms areas in your life, isn't it?!!!!

This was on one side of the lobby with these cool little cubbies to lounge and each had a private flat screen TV...the girls loved it!!

This was part of the main lobby...straight ahead was the reception area in the evening and breakfast area in the morning...breakfast was awesome!!! We really enjoyed the fresh Belgium waffles...yummy!!!

Out near the pool they have a fire pit...we'll have to visit again in the fall!!

This is the girls new sleeping arrangements after they moved us!!! Can you imagine how excited they were to have a room like Daddy & Mommy? :) They moved us into a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit that had 2 master suites and a huge living area!!

The kitchen & table at one end...

...the living area at the other end!!!

We had a total of 3 flat screen TV's...we are a family that owns two TV's (none in our bedrooms) and we only have DVD & videos to watch. We don't have cable, satellite or an antenna...this is our choice though :) So, it was fun to be able to watch the weather channel and the girls PBS...we even got to rent a movie off the TV. It's been so long since we had the option to do that... :)

This was our Master...the main difference was that ours had this chair (the girls had more room to play without one) and we had a separate vanity outside the bathroom. The Marriott bed is incredible...we couldn't figure out if it was all foam or not...it was soooo comfy!!!!

Our vanity area...love the clean look of this :)

The shower curtain was so cool...it had a pretty sheen to it!

This was such a treat...we hope to go for two nights next time to have more time to enjoy the room! We like to bring games or cards to play...just hanging out without the responsibilities of home that seem to be unending!!!

They were having one last hand of "Littlest Pet Shop- Go Fish" before bed!!

God is so Good and we are so very grateful for His mighty favor on our getaway in so many ways...We Praise you Lord for richly blessing our time together!!!!!