Busy, busy!!

Boy have we been busy!!! I really don't know where our days have gone. First, I was sick for almost two straight weeks, then Tanner got sick right after that. So that takes alot out of you. Michael and I celebrated our 12th anniversary on April 22nd. We took the kids camping at Lake Murray this past weekend. We had so much fun...well, except for the rain Friday night! Tyler has been taking TAKS tests at school and today is his last one, science. A couple of weeks ago, he took the math and reading tests...pasted both of them but got commended performance on the Math which is amazing. It is the highest grade posible!!! Yay Tyler!

We are down to about 24 days of school left till summer!!! We can not wait! Sadly, once these tests are over, they are pretty much done with learning anything. They just have to go to meet the state requirements for the number of days in school.

Anyway, that is what is happening in our house right now. Nothing exciting...for once!!

Happies :)

There are so many things on my mind right now. God has been showing me so many things lately. So, here is a list of things that I am so thankful for right now. There are so many things that we take for granted.

1. Salvation!!
2. My husband and kids
3. My parents
4. My family
5. God's Word
6. Our Amazing Church
7. Dances in the evening with Michael even though sometimes we don't have music
8. Rain
9. Sweet conversations with my kids
10. Family movie nights (which usually includes pizza)
11. My job
12. Michael's job
13. Time alone with God
14. Any Karen Kingsbury book
15. Our health
16. Fresh blooms
17. Evening walks
18. Teaching the kids new things and also learning a few new things from them
19. My 8th grade girl group from church
20. Laundry that smells like my mom's....Finally!!

Afternoon Conversations

This is my conversation with Tanner yesterday after school..

Me: How was school today?

Tanner: Good, but I need a break. Why don't kids ever get a break?

Me: What do you mean?

Tanner: Like you.

Me: Like me? I get a break?

Tanner: Yea, I go to school everyday, but all you do is sit here and watch kids all day.

Thanks Tanner, I appreciate it! Oh, to be a kid again!!

We Weekend, our women's retreat

I had a terrific time at our women's retreat! Amazing! The theme was 10 ways to "FOOL-PROOF" your life. I saw God working in ways I had never experienced in my life!! Maybe it is because I have grown in the Lord, but I have never been apart of a church that seeks to serve God, serve others, and see souls saved and than what we have been apart of the last two years. Not only that, we are challenged every single week to do more for Christ than we did the week before, and we are given the tools to do it. This weekend was no different. I saw women on their knees, looking to God, tears running down their cheeks, hands lifted high to the Lord....broken before Him!! Forever changed....

We heard from a women named Jen Strickland who had it all. A career in modeling, the tiny, tiny body..beautiful hair, money. But she didn't have the Lord. She was on TV, and was "Barbie" for their 35th anniversary. She shared her experience in that world. She was in Paris, Rome, Madrid, everywhere seeking new jobs..new thrills. But, she was abused, raped, drugged..you name it. But she didn't have the Lord. She shared how she was looking for affirmation and love from anyone that would give it. She shared her struggles and how finally when she didn't have anyone else, she found Jesus!!

There were 32 breakout sessions to choose from...anything from mothers of small children, or mothers of teens, to making your house a home, learning to seek God, why God isn't answering your prayers. If any of you would like to download any of the class notes, they are available at www.prestonwood.org/women.

It was worth every penny!!! Thank you Michael for watching the kids and doing everything you did around the house!

Ballet

Tatum has started ballet/tap dance lessons! It is the cutest thing I think I have ever seen! All of the little girls in her class are around the same age. I think there are usually 6 of them and to see the teacher trying to get all of them to do the same exact thing at the same exact time is comical. She love it though. And the best part is, they teach them about God. They go over different character traits and teach them that they are God's child and everything we do can glorify Him. At the end, they say a prayer and are dismissed. So, if you live in my area, you should try Encore Centre for Dance. It is based on Biblical principles which we love!!


I have yet to figure out this whole picture thing. I don't know how to make them show up where I want them too!! Ugh! Anyway, there are two that are in the studio and one that is of her in the car on the way to her first lesson!

She has a summer concert on June 18th! Can't wait!

Spring Break!

I love, love spring break!! By the time it gets here, I am in definite need of it! It allows us to get reenergized and excited about the changes that are brought by new seasons!

Our week in review:
We decided to go to visit each of our parents since we were both of the majority of the week!! Saturday we took the kids to Michael's parents farm. The kids love going there. We had a picnic, went fishing, and also did a little hiking in an area they have. The kids even found old cow bones....discusting!! Of course, they loved it. On Sunday, we got to see our little neice get baptized. What a blessing! She was so proud. On Monday, we took the kids to the Children's Museum in Seminole. I highly recommend it if you live anywhere close to it. Wonderful!! They have a grocery store that the kids can play in, bubble machines, huge outdoor maze, and also an area about tornadoes! You get inside of this little capsule thing (big words I know) and the winds get up to 78 miles an hour. There is also a video of a tornado!

Then, we went to my parents house Monday afternoon. The kids have a ball! They get to run and play in their huge yard. I love it because there isn't a street for cars to come flying down. They have a huge driveway that the kids can ride their bikes on. Less than two hours after we got there, Tanner fell and broke his collar bone. However, the crazy little boy didn't tell us until Tuesday at lunchtime!! He was too afraid of going to the doctor so the poor thing slept all night in pain, or at least attempted to sleep!!! So, we spent most of the afternoon at the doctor's office and then had to cut our trip a little short to come home to see an Orthopedic Dr. He is doing fine..just has to wear an arm brace. We also took the kids to the zoo...FYI: on spring break, the only zoo in the OKC surrounding area WILL BE PACKED!!!! We had a great day anyway!!

I am very sad to say that I don't have any pictures!! My camera battery was dead and I forgot to bring the charger.

Random

I have had nothing blog worthy to talk about lately. Plus, add that with Spring fever and you get absolutely nothing!! We have started our countdown to Spring Break. Can you believe it?? We are planning on just visiting family for our break. It will be nice since Michael is off too!

I had dinner with a great friend last night that I have not seen in a few months. It was great getting out and having girl talk without little girls interrupting...if you know my Tatum, you know that girl is ALWAYS talking! Yep, that is how we know she is asleep every night. She stops talking!! Thank you to my fabulous husband who is always willing to give me special times like this.

I am feeling incredibly blessed lately. One thing about going through the storms of life is that God always has something better planned for you on the other side. Amazing!!

I will leave you with this:
John 6:35
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."