Sunny Sunday

Finally some sun!! It's so beautiful outside today! The kids have been outside playing this afternoon. I usually make them take a nap on Sunday afternoon, but it's so pretty, I didn't have the heart to make them come inside. I guess I should have, though. I discovered some wet kids outside a few minutes ago, courtesy of a garden hose!! What younguns won't get into sometimes!!! Oh, well. I was just as bad when I was little.

Sure hope tomorrow is as pretty as today!

Happy 30, Andrew!

Happy 30th Birthday, Andrew! Today is my sweet husband's birthday! I love, love, love him so, so, so  very, very, very much!!!!!!!!!



Winter

Wow! What a winter we are having!! Two big snows in two weeks! That is so unusual for us. I would love to post pics, but unfortunately, my camera is out of commission! Oh, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, Livi, hope you like my pictureless post. : ) I know, I really shouldn't let so much time go by without posting, but you know how life is sometimes. Busy, busy, busy. I thought things were getting back to normal, then it snowed again. I don't know how things go when it snows where you live, but around here almost everything shuts down! It sure is pretty, though.

My in-laws have moved back to NC. They have moved into an apartment just down the road from us. Still trying to get everything unpacked and setteled in its place. Having them close will sure take some of Andrew's worry away. Poor fellow! He is such a wonderful husband!

Welp, gotta go. I hope to have my camera in working order again soon!!!!!!!!!! Hope you have a happy day!

Mark Lowry Christmas Poem

This is wonderful and so very true!!

Gaither Vocal Band - Christmas in the Country

Anticipation

Wow!! Thanksgiving is already gone and Christmas is soon to be here!!!! I am excited already, can you tell????? : ) I absolutely love Christmas!!!! My house is already decorated, except for maybe a few minor touches here and there as the mood strikes, of course. Most of my Christmas shopping is done! I can hardly believe it!

This is from Christmas '09, but I think it's too cute! Children is what makes Christmas to me. I sure do love my tiny elf and little reindeer!

"Jesus On The Mainline" With Mark Lowry (FULL)

"One Day At A Time" By Lynda Randle

Changed Plans

We didn't go to Lazy 5 Ranch after all. Something about no available reservations for the times we needed. Sooooooooooo, we went to Ashboro Zoo instead. We has a good time, even though we did walk miles & miles! And no, that's not an exaggeration! The trail is 5 miles long. Needless to say, my legs are still sore! The weather was perfect, though. Not too chilly, not too hot, but just right! I had planned to take lots of pictures, but I was having so much fun I forgot! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Nathanael lost another tooth yesterday. It came out on it's own, thank goodness! He was pretty excited about it. As soon as he woke up this morning he said,"I need to see what's under my pillow!" I told him he had to go to the bathroom first. (I didn't tell him I had forgotten to switch out the tooth for a dollar!) While he was in the bathroom I made a mad dash for my purse. He was never the wiser! As I'm writing this, I'm realizing more & more that my baby is not a baby anymore! WAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fall Frolicking

I am loving this fall weather! What with it being such a hot summer, this cooler weather feels great!!!!!!! I love how I need a jacket in the morning when I go outside and that I can finally break out sweaters!!! (I love fall and winter clothes.) The leaves haven't changed a lot, though. A little, but not much, at least not in my neighborhood. Can't wait for the full show!

Saturday our church youth group is going on a trip to Lazy 5 Ranch in Mount Ulla, NC. Look it up, it looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun!! Hopefully we'll see some pretty foilage in that area. I'll post pics next week, hopefully. 

"Open Heart Surgery" By Mark Lowry Comedy

Dolls & Grandpas

This is what Abby & Grandpa were doing while I was getting lunch ready after church yesterday. This is something she won't soon forget. I thought it was so sweet! I have to say, I think I have two of the sweetest Grandparents in the world! My children just love them to pieces. Thank God for them!

Florida

We had a nice, long trip to Florida. (Long because it's a 12 hour drive!) We went to visit Andrew's parents. But, of course, it's not a visit to FL without a trip to the Caloosahatchee River in Andrew's hometown of Alva. We took a ride down the river in my in-laws fishing boat.

Nathanael & Abby were very excited! This was their first boat ride.

I was a little nervous! I can't swim! The nervousness didn't last long, tho. The river is beautiful!

Andrew had steering duty. He loves this river.

This is the kind of boat we WISH we owned...

parked at the dock behind this house!

I loved this barn! There is an orange grove to the left of the barns. It was absoutely beautiful!

We really had a good time. Seeing family is always worth the LONG drive! : )

Fall

Fall is definitely in the air! Goody, goody! I love fall. I guess it's my favorite season. The weather has finally taken on a fally feeling. Cooler nights & mornings, & shorter days. Some of the leaves are just starting to change colors, but only just. I love all the colors of fall!

I decided that my door needed a fall update, so I made this wreath. I really like it! Andrew said it looks a little like Halloween to him, but I don't think so. What do you  think?

Couponing

Ok, so I've been getting into couponing over the past few months. It is amazing how much money you can save by using coupons on things that are on sale! It takes some organization and time, but it is definitely worth it to me! Take yesterday, for example. I went to Harris Teeter because they are having Super Doubles coupons this week. Any coupon $1.98 or less is doubled, up to 20 coupons per customer per day.

This is what I got:

4 Tony's frozen pizzas

4 Pillsbury Grand's can biscuits

2 boxes Betty Crocker cake mix

2 cans Betty Crocker icing

2 boxes Betty Crocker Potatoes

1 box Shake n Bake

2 boxes Froot Loops cereal

3 boxes Pop Tarts

2 Herbal Essences Shampoo

2 Downy Fabric Softener

1 Lysol Neutra Air sanitizing spray

1 lg. bottle Gain Dish Detergent

1 Febreeze Set & Refresh

1 Oral B toothbrush

The total cost before coupons & sales was: $71.70

My total out of pocket after tax cost after sales & coupons was: $17.49

Isn't that great? I was happy, happy, happy when I walked out of that store! You should try is sometime!

New Kitchen

My kitchen is finished! We had ceramic tile put down last week and that was a mess! My stove and fridge was in the den, my kitchen table was in the living room. I couldn't cook and that was kinda nice, but take out gets old after several nights in a row. All this while we were in revival!! AAAGGGHHHHH! Now, however, I'm glad I went ahead and went through with it. I love my new floor! My sweet husband also let me buy a new kitchen table! I have been looking at this style for a while and wanting one for just as long.

Can't wait for you to come see it in person, Olivia!

Grace

"Grace, grace, God's grace;

 Grace that will pardon & cleanse within.

Grace, grace, God's grace;

Grace that is greater than all my sin."

How thankful I am for God's amazing grace! So many times I have had to ask for God's grace to come and cover me once again.

"Oh, I keep going back to the Well of Grace,

Great is it's power, sweet is it's taste.

For whatever temptation or trial I face,

I keep going back to the Well."

He is always faithful to come when I call. No problem is too big or too small for Gods grace. God cares about the smallest things that trouble me! Things that seem insignificant to someone else. His grace is sufficient for all my needs. I sure am glad he has more grace and patience with me that I sometimes find myself having with others. Another thing God's grace is covering more and more each day.

"I just want to thank you, Lord, for every time that you heard me pray.

I just want to thank you for always being there.

When I was so down and out, you came along and made me want to shout. 

I just want to thank you, Lord, thank you, Lord!"

Back to school!!! Last Thursday was officially the first day, but today was the first full day. Abby is in 2nd grade & Nathanael is in Kindergarten. They were so excited! I remember that feeling. But, gracious, it sure has been a while!

Abigail with her teacher, Sis. Mary Cooper.

Nathanael with his teacher, Sis. Ivey Woods.

I took this next picture after lunch yesterday. Andrew had sat down in his chair & Nathanael had climbed in his lap.

Andrew really was almost asleep, but not the little monkey!

Sweet

Today was the first day of school. Abby is a 2nd grader and Natanael is Kindergarten! I was going to take pictures but Andrew had my camera. He went fishing a few hours away today and wanted it as proof of the "big one" he catches. Hahaha!!!

Last night was Communion Service at church and what a wonderful service it was!! It was definitely the best Communion I've ever attended. Such a sweet, sweet spirit! The presence of God to remind us of his great love and mercy.

"There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place; and I know that it's the spirit of the Lord."

How faithful is our God!!!

Changes

Summer's almost over!! That means some changes are just ahead. Sometimes that can be a good thing and sometimes not! Some of the good things I can think of are

cooler weather

leaves changing colors

Youth Camp

my 10th Anniversary

Holidays

school starts

Some of the bad things are

ice cream is not as good in cooler weather

grass turns brown

campmeetings are MONTHS away

school starts

No, I am not loony! I know I had "school starts" in both lists. It's a GREAT thing because it really does give me some quiet time, time to clean the house without 4 little hands to come behind me and mess it right up again, time to go to the grocery store alone ( my kids hate to go ).

It's a BAD thing because in spite of all the things in the previous sentence, I really do miss Abby & Nathanael when they're gone all day. Oh, well. I guess that's part of being a mommy and your kids growing up. BOO HOO HOO!!!!!!

Livi, we had such a great time at your house last week! Thanks for having us. It sure was good to have some girl time. NO HUSBANDS!!!!! Although, I really love mine and I know you love yours, too. Lets do it again real soon! I'm really looking forward to September.

By the way, I am now craving Dove's chocolate!