The dreams or plans I had for myself fall vastly short in comparison to the plans God has had for me all along. I could have never imagined this life I'm living. I am blessed beyond words with a wonderful husband, three precious kids, and an exciting homeschool journey. Looking back to where this all began close to sixteen years ago, I had various corporate jobs bouncing around to different fortune five hundred companies. I even did a good bit of traveling for work the first few years of our marriage. I don't miss those days. I don't miss that life. In that moment I did not mind it so much. Back then I thought having the nice house and the new cars were so important. I had the mindset that we needed to acquire a certain level of wealth before beginning certain phases of life. Thankfully some wise friends informed me that the problem with waiting for the perfect bank account or that just perfect moment of all the ducks in a row is the fact that we are living in an imperfect world. Things will never be perfect. Life will pass you by while you wait. I started to realize the truth in those words. We had our first son in January of 2001 and I began to grow less enchanted with climbing the corporate ladder. Babies have a way of helping you instantly put things into perspective. I do believe that's all part of God's design. Nothing else really truly makes me ponder the bigger questions in life like I do when I'm looking at the sweet children God knit together in my womb. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001 things became even clearer. I felt the pressures of life being in this rat race. My baby boy was growing up so fast before my eyes. How much of his life was I missing because I was stuck in the rut of working overtime to keep up with the workload? I came to a crossroads where I knew God was allowing me to feel these pressures and trials to bring about changes. These plans were not His plans. This was not where I was supposed to be. I began to seek God out. Begging Him to show me where we were supposed to be. What were we supposed to be doing? God does not always answer my prayers how I hope, but this is one of those definite moments that I knew without any doubt that God was moving swiftly in our lives. I had asked what His plans were. I asked where we were supposed to be and He answered. I still remember to this day being confident about where God was taking us. From very early on I always felt called to work with children. I had even pursued a college degree in education hoping to one day be an elementary school teacher. After three years under my belt towards that degree I became distracted. Life threw challenges my way and I got lazy about school. College was expensive. When a full time job came my way making nearly as much if not more than what I would teaching I lost sight of that dream. This factor topped with the immediate payoff of not having to finish my degree is the lie I told myself back then. All the while, meeting my soon to be husband in the mix and the rest is history. College dreams got tossed aside along with the passion and dreams about working with children. After the birth of my son those dreams began to resurface. I know that God gives us all gifts. Life is so much richer when we can use those gifts to serve him. I began asking God to help me use those gifts where He wanted me to. Over the last ten years God has brought us on this amazing journey. My husband and I served side by side at a children's home. We raised our boys along side us while we worked. We got to be part of the lives of some amazing children and adults. Friendships that were made in the time we worked there will last this lifetime and the next. Now God has called me on to a different journey. The one of homeschooling our kids. While this plan is not one that I originally imagined for us, I am so very glad to be where we are. Just when I thought our lives were complete and full God brought our precious daughter into our lives. At that moment I was terrified and feeling inadequate for the job of mothering a baby a third time around in what I was convinced through and through was too old an age to be having a another baby. Were if not for God's endless grace and mercy, I would have never made it through. God is good and He is faithful! Sometimes it's when I am weakest that I finally remember that I cannot do it on my own. I don't have to do it on my own. He is here. He is real! He loves me!! He takes care of me. His providence still leaves me speechless when I truly think about the moments He has carried us through. Fast forward to a little over sixteen years later and here I am homeschooling two fiery boys while doing my best to keep up with an ever inquisitive two year old. Life is GOOD!

This is going to be an exciting school year. I choose joy. I choose to make it a joyful school year because that's what God calls me to do. Choose joy. My biggest goal for this school year is to choose joy continually. Joy was also meant to be an action. I can chose to feel joyful or I can choose the alternative. What better way to model to my family God's light than to strive to live for Him daily. I have been blessed so richly and I'm tired of wasting my moments. What about you? Are you choosing joy? Are you where you're supposed to be? I challenge you to ask God if you have any doubts! ** And one side note...that is just a toy my oldest is wearing, I promise!(the knife he has strapped to his belt for all his pictures) It takes much bribery to get a tween to willingly pose for photos!

I have been MIA

Okay, Okay, Okay.....so I have been missing in action for quite some time to the blogosphere....but not without good reason...I have been busy! Very busy. Life is full of surprises sometimes.....very wonderful and good surprises. The kind sometimes you never imagine for yourself. Gifts you are given that you never even knew you wanted or needed until you receive them. That's the kind of heavenly Father we have. Without further delay.....the reason for my long long absence....is this very blessing from above who has turned my world upside down from the moment I knew this was happening and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is our sweet Alyssa Grace. Born on the 4th of July. I know I waited far to long to update this blog with this lovely baby girl's arrival. But hey, we've been busy. This little lady keeps me on my toes....on top of that and homeschooling two boys...finding time to blog is hard to come by!! Thank goodness for facebook or else I'd never have any kind of updates to share!! So on my next posts I will try and share more details and updated photos of our sweet precious gift from God!!!

Memorial of a Dear Sweet Friend

n Wednesday I came to find out that a friend passed away unexpectedly.  It was so unexpected and sudden.  She was a truly amazing person.  It was impossible to know my friend Joy without seeing the shine of God in her life.  Joy was the kind of friend that made special handmade cards and took the time to send snail mail.  She had a gift of making those around her feel special and loved.  She was never too busy to reach out. I can remember her at my baby shower for my youngest son.  I remember working with her at Thornwell where we met.   I can vividly remember her holding my baby as we chatted and  watched the other children play on the playground. Children were at ease with her.  She had such a heart for children.  She had an amazing faith.  She truly lived her life out for God in the short twenty-six years of her life.  She made more impact in those few short years than most of us could ever hope to make.    She was fearless in her mission to reach out to children in third world countries.  It was on her last missions trip to Asia that she developed an aneurysm  that she would not recover from.  My heart goes out to her family as I cannot imagine the hurt that comes with losing a family member so unexpectedly.  I hope and pray they have peace in knowing that they will one day see her again in God's kingdom. I hope there is comfort and joy in knowing how happy she is to be with Jesus.  I know He has his reasons for allowing these things to happen.  This side of heaven we may never comprehend the reasons.  She was an amazing person that made such an impact, truly living out spreading the gospel. If you asked her what her life's verse was she'd quickly tell you James 1:27.  She went to places that would terrify many of us. Living in rugged places far beyond the modern comforts that we Americans often take for granted.  It was in those places that she shined the brightest.  Her gift was definitely missions.  She was living out her dream as she served abroad. She touched hearts in both her life and death.  It's made me realize yet again not to sweat the small stuff.  Take the time to tell your loved ones how much you care.  Life is fragile, make it count.  I believe Joy did. 

A Very Big Day!

It was a very big day for our family.  Austin recently made the decision that he wanted to be baptized.  Our pastor talked and prayed with him to make sure he fully understood the decision he was making. Today on the 4th of July our church had a big BBQ followed by baptisms, games and fireworks.  Austin was tugging at heartstrings as he told of why he wanted to be baptized. Before the baptism took place our pastor briefly spoke with everyone getting baptized telling them this moment would be an opportunity to share Jesus with people there that don't know Him. I didn't realize how my nine year old son say some profound things.

Listening to him speak to the crowd about how he watched his father make the decision to follow Christ and be baptized and how he was wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. He spoke of wanting God in his life.

Knowing that Eric is shining Jesus in his life in a very real way that even our sons can see vividly is so priceless.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The way that Austin comprehends things that I never even realize are just taking place in the day to day routine of life. He gets the big picture. He is soaking in all the details, never missing a beat.  I'm so blessed that he has both an earthly and heavenly father and that his earthly father is pointing him in the direction of his heavenly father.  I think God has big plans for Austin's life and greater things are yet to come!!  Today has been a joyous one of celebration!   

Wes Makes His Piano Debute!

Beach Trip

So I've fallen out of the blogosphere for a bit.  Sometimes you just have to do that.  Other things needed more priority....but that is a another blog post in itself.  So, for now, I'll share some pictures of our first ever camping trip with the boys!  Yes, you heard right, the city folks went camping and lived to tell about it.  The low point of the trip was having seagulls poop in the hot dog dinner that Eric was grilling up for us. Oh and in the process they pooped on him as well.  So needless to say the city folks moved to plan B and opted for pizza at a nearby pizzeria.  Being that our first night there the winds were at 20-25 mph, dinner really did work out for the best.  We did manage to cook other meals during our camping trip without bird droppings.  But,  I made a definite note to self that a canopy of some sort is highly beneficial for future camping trips!!! We even had a squirrel adopt us for a couple days.

He came running anytime he heard food bags rattling.  Eric even fixed him a bowl of cereal our last morning there.  And the squirrel, Sparkey, as we nicknamed him.....climbed up on the picnic table to eat some! All in all the trip was a success.  Couldn't have asked for better weather.  The boys didn't want to go home and are secretly plotting together on how to get us back out there again.  Austin was even brainstorming up ways to raise money so that he can buy another camping trip asap! He is determined!! Going to sleep to sound of ocean waves is highly addictive.....I'm secretly plotting our next camping trip in my mind too..... :)

The Prized Christmas Gift

Austin has been wishing this certain item for about three Christmases!!  And now thanks to some of Santa's helpers.....this Christmas.....his wishing came true.  Austin even told us as he awoke that morning that he had heard Santa's reindeer landing on the roof in the middle of the night.  But, of course, Austin said he made sure he stayed in bed.  He was so excited that night before he went to bed because this would be the first Christmas Eve where he slept in a top bunk ever so close tot he roof top! It pays to be the oldest!! Here is the video of Austin opening his special gift.  Of course once again....you'll want to pause the music player before you start the video!  Sorry people, I'm a music junky!!