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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Home from Disney!

We arrived home safely yesterday afternoon from our week long Disney vacation with the Johnsons! We enjoyed beautiful weather right up until the last 3 hours of our last day in Animal Kingdom, and it began to rain. It was a wild, but great time vacationing with 10 children and 4 adults! The children enjoyed having each other to ride rides with, many memories were made! I spent most of yesterday afternoon unpacking and washing. We all were exhausted and in bed by 9 last night! We had a wonderful time, but it is always so good to be home!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Carson!

Today my second born turned 8! What a joy he has been in our lives! When he is serious, he is serious! When he is silly, he is silly! He is always the little joker, even when he's not trying, he can make you smile. He can say the funniest things and have you rolling with laughter.

John Parker, Alexander, Clay, Jared, Matthew & Carson
My how the time flies! Here are some pictures of years past birthdays.
I love seeing these pictures and the changes from year to year.
They also make my heart ache just a little, seeing my baby grow up so quickly.
I need more time!!!!!
2nd B-Day
3rd B-Day

4th B-Day
5th B-Day

6th B-Day

7th B-Day



8th B-Day
This year the boys wanted to have a sleep-over party! We told Carson he could have 5 boys stay the night. They had a ball! At one point, all 8 boys were running up and down the hall upstairs having a light saber battle, this is when I really started re-thinking the idea!!! Fortunately, it only lasted a short time and nothing got broken, only one picture got knocked off the wall!
I popped popcorn for them, and they all settled down and watched Star Wars II.
All were fast asleep by midnite!
Happy Birthday My Sweet Little Man!!!!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Friends

Norm, Barbara Jo, Emily, Kara, & Sabrina

Fourteen years ago, when Kelly and I married, we moved to Chicago. He worked as a sales representative for Action and this was his training territory. I had never been more than an hour away from home, so moving to Chicago was incredibly scary! You know God works in our lives everyday, and this move definitely had God's hand all over it. See Kelly wasn't a Christian at the time, but he was supportive of my desire to find a congregation to worship. God led us to a church where Norm Webb was the preacher. He and his wife, Barbara Jo, were from Alabama, yes... our state's next door neighbors, now we weren't the only ones with those "cute" southern accents! They were also young, newly weds just like us! They were so kind to us, and we became fast friends. The best part about it was that Kelly really started to show an interest in learning the truth, and Norm was a wonderful teacher. He had several home Bible studies with us, and was incredibly patient and helpful in answering all of Kelly's questions. One cold, very cold night Kelly showed his desire to be baptized, it was late, probably around 10 or so, and he wanted to be baptized in Lake Michigan!!!!! Norm talked him into going to the church instead and be baptized in the heated baptistery. We were only in Chicago for eight short months, but those were some of the most important in shaping our marriage! I am so thankful for our time there and the lifelong friendship we formed with Norm and Barbara Jo. We don't get to see them much, but there will always be a special place in our heart for them. This weekend Kelly's military school was in Huntsville so the kids, and I went with him. Norm and Barbara Jo have been working with a congregation in Athens, right outside of Huntsville, for many years now. Last night we were able to meet for dinner at Red Robin and visit. It was so great to catch up and see each others' children and how much they've grown! The restaurant was very crowded so we had to split up into two tables. Their girls and our boys sat at one table and we sat at one right across. It was so funny to watch them! For the first several minutes, none of them said a word, no one looked up from their coloring sheets! They did warm up some before our meal was finished, but still I don't think a whole lot of conversation was going on.




Maybe one day (wink, fingers crossed!), years down the road, when they are courting each other they will look back on these pictures and laugh! After eating, we walked down to take a group picture of the kids. Then we went to the Chocolate Crocodile and had a delicious treat! I had a huge chocolate covered strawberry! Yum


Jared, Sabrina, Emily, Kara, Avery, Carson & John Parker


Girls enjoying chocolate covered marshmallows


Carson is in heaven - decisions... decisions!

We had a wonderful time!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary!

Today marks the day that I married my prince charming 14 years ago! Our marriage has been one of many blessings. Kelly and I have grown closer over the years, growing and maturing, experiencing life's trials, ups and downs, happy and sad times. We have laughed together, cried together, celebrated together and sorrowed together. We have watched our family grow from just the two of us to now the six of us! It has been a joyous ride! The thing that I am most proud of is our relationship with God, and how we both have grown closer together with him in our center! Kelly is a wonderful husband, a great father to our precious children. He is a wonderful provider, working tirelessly making sure we have what we need and enabling me to be home with our children. I am so proud of his work ethic and the example he sets for our boys! I am looking forward to the next 14 and experiencing with Kelly all that the years may bring.

The above pictures were taken on our 10th anniversary cruise, which actually didn't happen until just before our 13th (last December), due to the event that Kelly was serving in Iraq on our 10th! Am I confusing you yet?! I am sure that I am because I am confusing myself! Anyway, we enjoyed our second honeymoon so much. It was so incredibly beautiful! It was a wonderful time together. By the way, our first honeymoon was spent at Disney, which we will be visiting again in just 16 days!!!!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Back to School

After a one month break, we started back to school today. At least 4 of us did! John Parker woke up sometime in the night with the dreaded "BUG" again!!!! This is 4 times for him since October - I am about to pull my hair out!!!!!! I stripped all the bedding, sprayed everything with Lysol, quarantined him to his room and banned the others from entering! I am just praying that no one else gets it! School went well with the other 3. Jared and Avery did great with their new reading book Get Ready for the Code! We also started our KONOS States and Regions unit, we will be participating in a 16 week coop this semester. This is the largest coop we have ever been a part of with 13 families and around 50 children. I am so thankful for the ladies who coordinated this effort and laid it all out for stress-free execution!!!! The kids are so excited, I am just hoping to keep my head above water. I know that it will be a wonderful, fun experience for all of us! Positive Thinking!!!!!! Happy Thoughts!!!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

For the past five years or so, it has become tradition to ring in the New Year at our home with our church family. This year was no different! After Bible study, everyone came out, and we had a great night of fun, food and fellowship. Lots of us played different games while some just enjoyed visiting with one another. Those who were brave enough went out and watched some fireworks...... it was soooo cold out there! Several chose to head home a little early, but surprisingly the majority stayed and welcomed 2009 here with us! I am wishing you all a very peaceful and prosperous 2009! May God bless you and yours this year!

Stephen, Kelly, John, Ray, Scott & Carrie Ann

Becky, Amanda, Beth & Bennett, Leslie & Lisa

Leigh & Annie

Barbara
Roan, Julie & Sam


Annie & Emily

Jim, Scott, Johnathan, Manny & Bennett

Jerry, Stephen, Johnathan & John