The year the kids ruled Christmas

We let the kids decorate the tree themselves this year... hope you enjoy the masterpiece they created!

Rainforests, Bama Fans and Smoke in the Mountains

So we headed out from Dallas at 6 on Saturday morning with the intent to drive to Chattanooga Tennessee at a nice enjoyable pace. Along the way we saw tall pine trees, rain, the Mighty Mississippi, rain, Bienville National Forest (Serah's Rainforest) and yet more rain. Things were going great till we crossed into Alabama and hit Tuscaloosa, silly us planned a trip on a Bama ball game Saturday, I now have Matt's full support in rooting against Alabama in any sports event. What should have taken us 30 minutes took 1 1/2 hours. After fighting through the crazy traffic we continued on the Chattanooga, arriving at our hotel at 9pm EST and realized our kids still hadn't eaten. We checked in and I got the kids in the showers while Matt ran next door and picked us up Wendy's, was so not the sit down dinner we had planned.

The next day dawned, bright and clear... oh no, wait that was just in my head... it was nice and drizzly, but still we had a hope for a better day. We headed over to have breakfast with Matt's cousin and his family. What a delicious start to the day. After that we loaded back up in the car and headed towards the mountains. We decided to try our luck again with a more relaxed trip and took the scenic route instead of the interstate. Even though we started the day with rain all around us we trusted God to clear the skies enough for us to see His beauty around us.

The glory of God is amazing, we took a route that took us through the Smoky Mountains and up part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Matt was such an awesome husband and stopped often for me to take so many pictures. I can't wait to get them developed.

We arrived to joy and excitement at the Guy's house at around 8:30 EST and have had a wonderful time since then. Since I don't want to waste too much time of my vacation on the computer I'll save all the fun stories till later.

First day of school in cold weather

It was in the mid to upper 40's this morning and we had left the windows open so the house was quite cold when we got up, needless to say we are doing school in warm cozy's today. Enjoy the view and praying you are blessed with His presence today.

The blessing of a Godly Daddy

We have been through a lot these past couple of months, ups and downs, highs and lows. I don't think we could have made it through without the example of Matt. He has guided us through it all with love, compassion and strenght.

This Sunday was one of those special days for us. We have been spending some time as a family just learning what God has planned for us. We decided it was going to be one of our home days and so Matt sat down with the concordance and an idea of what God wanted him to share with us. He found a scripture and had Ethan read it, then we had a wonderful discussion with the kids about kindness and forgivness. The peacefulness of that day was much needed and I thank God for this chance we've been given.

We are so blessed to have the example he gives us of love, strength and compassion, just like our Heavenly Daddy.

just a normal school day

Even Princesses have to do their schoolwork!

Prince Charming has been known to

make an appearance or two.

A lesson for us all

Your thoughts

Become Your words

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Your words

Become your actions

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Your actions

Become your habits

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Your habits

Become your character

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Your character

Reveals who you really are!!

*

*

*

I think this will be framed in my kids rooms very soon!

September is almost over, where did it go?

Got a couple of pictures for you on this second to last day of September... sitting here doing school work with the kids with the house open to the cool air (we got a "cold front" last night). This is truly one of my favorite times of the year.

Yes they are still in their pajamas but that is one of the beauties of homeschooling... less laundry some days :-) Our Christmas present to each other will be reworking the office but for now we are making do.

my fall "garden" is doing great, we've got two kinds of tomatoes and two kinds of peppers... I'm planning to work on the real beds this fall and winter so we will be set for spring and fall gardening for the rest of the time we are in this house.... growing your own food is so rewarding.

Praying that your day is a blessing to you and you are a blessing to others.