Season of Change

It is a new season and we are surrounded by change. With all that is happening, changing and going on around us...it would be very easy to get lost in the shuffle of many transitions. God is so very Good, Faithful & On Time! My eyes must remain fixed on HIM, through each & every step. This has been a great challenge for me recently though. I am finding out just how analytical I truly am! It has been very hard for me to adjust...as I think I am still fighting God instead of trusting HIM. I have been a stranger- as an encouraging wife & mother. I am in awe of what the Lord is doing though despite & through my shortcomings. His love & grace IS enough. He is molding & shaping me and showing me what to let go of and what to cling to.

Some of the new changes:

-one car family (finalized)
-Roy- new position & schedule...one we must creatively work around!
-New school year on the horizon...quickly approaching!
-Praying for wisdom & direction relating to our "church home".

There are a few more...I am a little too sleepy to think right now though...so Goodnight. :)

PS- Are any of you in that overwhelming season of change too?

A New Look

Well, it was time again to have our eye exam and this year we had a surprise... Amelia needed glasses?!! What...we were so shocked!! Even though she has wanted to have glasses like the rest of her family for a couple years now. So, when she went in for the exam the other day during the pre-screen she said that she couldn't read some of the stuff. So I discreetly let them know that she might be trying to get glasses and they immediately understood.

Once she went in to see the Dr. for the full exam, the same details were communicated and she said that was very common with kids. Everything was going well until she had to cover her right eye. She turned her head to the side and it seemed like she was trying to get some help from her right eye to read the letters with her left eye. The Dr. asked if she had been doing this at home? I hadn't noticed but, I wasn't looking for it either...you know what I mean?

Long story short...her left eye needs some assistance. It may be transitional...it may not. We'll go back in a month to see if they help or if she outgrows them.

In the meantime, we are very blessed to have two sweet girls who are so happy in their adorable glasses. :)

Here are my new ones...sorta boring but I didn't really see any frames that I liked. Praise God for vision insurance...a huge blessing!!

By the way, for those of you that wear glasses- what are your thoughts on the anti-glare coating? It has always been an extra co-pay for us, one that adds up quick. Do you think it makes a big difference...driving at night, computer time or for kids in the classroom, reading ?

Sweet Sunday

Praise God ~ We could attend church on a Sunday morning together!!!

Later on we had some family time... today it was a game of LIFE . We love this game, imagining all the different scenarios. There are so many teachable moments woven into this one too. Opportunities to even teach about character. In our case, when the girls get the split level or what we call the "smoke" house...we always seem to see a shift in the game!! :)

The salaries rotated quite a bit this time too...it went surprisingly well!

Dad- Athlete, $90,000, Victorian House

Madeline- Doctor, $70,000, Country Cottage

Mia- Artist, $80,000, Split Level Home

Mom- Teacher, $100,000, Farmhouse

And the winner is...Dad!

Congratulations...great game!!! :)

-Final Scores-

Dad- $1,535,000 Cash + $1,450,000 Life Tiles = $2,985,000

Mia- $1,415,000 Cash + $900,000 Life Tiles = $2,315,000

Mom- $1,215,000 Cash + $450,000 Life Tiles = $1,665,000

Madi- $610,000 Cash + $450,000 Life Tiles = $1,060,000


What are your favorite games to play as a family???

Dreaming of Days to Come...

We had our monthly visit to BPS (Bass Pro Shop) today...it was such fun to see the girls role playing in there!

Mia has found a new train that she would love to add to her collection. :)

This was something new that we hadn't seen the last time...a tent/cot combo.

I must say they do make camping look fun...this Mommy is starting to soften and consider some future trips in a tent! All the possibilities & endless adventures that await...

This was the coolest tent we have seen yet, I really could picture us in this one. It had about three separate spaces and numerous areas for ventilation. It was quite impressive!

Come on...let's go!! :)

I can picture Mia navigating us through some exciting trails while out hiking.

"Winter" on a Warm, Sunny Day...

"Winter" by M & M

The girls put on a cute puppet show for us this afternoon. This drawing by Madeline was their inspiration for the story. The black represents the snow. If it were white you wouldn't be able to see it, right? :)

They love to set up their stage & gather their props.


Great Job Girls...it was absolutely outstanding...Bravo!!!!

We look forward to your next show! :)

Here is an unedited video of their performance...

July 4th Weekend

My Aunt Jan was in town for the 4th, to enjoy some sister time with my Mom. So we all decided to go and have some "sister time" at the bowling alley...3 generations of sisters!!! We had a good time...all the belly laughs far outweighed our scores!! :)

Jan was helping the girls...it had been quite a while since they had bowled. I had told the girls in advance that Aunt Jan once played on a league and that she would be the perfect teacher for them!

Aunt Jan & Madeline in a teachable moment!

Aunt Jan & Mia...she prefers the hands-on approach :)

Mom/Grandma- one of the 1st generation sisters

Mia really enjoyed this and wouldn't turn around until the ball hit the pins!

Great Job Mia!!

For Madeline it was all about the method & focusing on each step. :)

Way to go Madeline!!

Mom- great form!!

Yea...go Jan!!!

Darlene was our cheerleader... a 2nd generation sister too!

I was the photographer...the other 2nd generation sister!

Game 1 scores~ Generation 3 Team
Madi-45 Mia-93

Game 1 totals~ Generation 1 Team
Debbie- 119 Jan-79

Ballet at the bowling alley, anyone?!! :)

Miss Mia Mae :)

There were a few challenges during game 1...the balls were VERY greasy from the lanes being over saturated with oil. The shoes were a challenge with Jan, she was not able to get a slide out of them. It is frustrating when you are used to things a certain way! I know my friend Michelle would be able to relate to her dilemma. :)

Towards the end of the Generation 1 Sisters game, they gave the Generation 2 Sisters a shot to pull up their scores...not really! :)

We had fun trying...it was a great day!!!

The combined efforts for Game 2- Generations 1 & 2
Debbie & Darlene-88 Jan & Denise-100

-Final Scores-
Debbie-207 Jan-179

Totals for Generation 3 Sisters~ Madeline & Mia
Madi-45 Mia-93

-Final Scores-
Madeline-96 Mia-164


Way To Go Sisters!!!!! :)

July 4th Feast...

Dad/Grandpa came over for dinner and some fun. We had a nice day playing games with the girls. My awesome, talented husband cooked us up a wonderful feast on the 4th...I helped out a little. :) We had fried shrimp w/ a special ~Mississippi recipe~ sauce, corn on the cob, red potatoes, & warm french bread. It was so good!!! Thanks for joining us Dad :)

Honey, as always- you are an amazing chef...I Love You!!!!!!

Happy Independence Day!

We are giving thanks today and celebrating this great nation we live in. Praise God for the Liberty we have in this land and for all those who are out fighting to protect that freedom! Let us depend on you Lord and stand upon your Word and the truths that our nation was founded upon. While we are gathered today with family & friends let us remember our country's motto... IN GOD WE TRUST.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

Have a safe, happy & blessed 4th of July...GOD BLESS AMERICA!


Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
~Psalm 34:8

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
~Psalm 119:105

10 Wonderful, Blessed Years

We recently just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. This is the bouquet of flowers that my Darling Husband blessed me with. This simple, beautiful bouquet represents our journey together so well. The Lord has brought us through many seasons...some challenging, some confusing, many full of Joy & Peace and all of them close to my heart sharing them with Roy~ my love, friend & partner. Each "piece" in this bouquet reminds me of a place or time in our lives together. Some when it was just the "two of us", others with the recognition of the three fold cord, and some with our sweet children.

We had a nice & relaxing evening out together- dinner at Bahama Breeze, movie at AMC to see The Proposal and a stop at Starbucks on the way home.

Thank you Honey for a wonderful evening. I am so grateful for all that we have been blessed with. I look forward to all the plans the Lord has for us & our family. There is no where I would rather be than by your side, embraced hand in hand, relying and waiting on our Lord.

I Love You Roy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. ~ Matthew 19:5-6