Strawberry picking

Today I had the pleasure of helping our friends Tally and Kristy by watching their lovely little boy while they attended Dr. Jerry Falwell's funeral. I am so glad I am here and able to help. Tally and Kristy are former students of Liberty. My family has had a wonderful day with Caleb! Hannah is only 9 days older than him and they have just made great friends. We went to a strawberry patch and the kids just loved running up and down the rows and they ate their fill, I am glad they don't weigh the kids when we leave! We then went to the store and God blessed me so greatly with a double cart! Caleb is a very loving boy, he hugged Hannah and myself all through the store he pushed Lily's hair out of her eyes, and laid his head on her, it was so sweet! I really hate that we live so far away and that we haven't gotten to spend time like this with Caleb before. So today with 4 little ones was wonderful, Boy Daddy is in trouble now it was a piece of cake, I think anything over 2 is no big deal!

Strawberry pie

1 baked pie shell
2 cups whole strawberries
1-2 cups mashed strawberries
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 tea salt
3 tbs cornstarch

Place the whole strawberries in the bottom of the cooled pie shell. Cook all other ingredients on med high until thick like a jell. When it cools pour in the shell and cool. Serve with cool whip.

Adoption

As Daddy and I were watching an amazing baptism service at Church today, and let me take a minute to tell you how we do baptism at our church it is so awesome! We have a baptism tub in the center stage and people come forward to give their testimony and share how they came to know Jesus, then the people who helped the person come to know Christ are by their side as they are baptised, today a whole family was on stage and a father and mother helped baptise their daughter... Oh how amazing is that! I can not wait until the day all three of our children come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and start on the journey of their relationship with Him and I can't wait to be by their side through this experience!
Back to the service, as anyone who has read this blog knows I deeply regret the decision that Daddy and I made to have a vasectomy and that we have been praying about a reversal...
As we were watching the baptism a father and mother and 5 grown children came up with their daughter, she is a worker in the nursery with Lily, her name is Christin Joy, I have had the opportunity to meet with her a few times... She appears to be a little mentally challenged but fully functioning, so although she excepted Christ as her Savior sometime ago she had not gotten baptised. Her father came and started to speak about how, many years ago, his youngest son started to pray for a sister and how little did they know out in Arizona a woman was having a child and was unable to care for her, and at only 2 months of age Christin Joy came to be a part of their family, he went on to say how much she has added to their family and what a joy she is! Well of course miss water works myself was a mess, it is very emotional to be a part of anyone's spiritual journey. As a sat listening my stomach kind of flipped a bit, I really felt like God was speaking to my heart, is this the plan he has for us? I have to admit adoption is scary for me, I believe with all my heart it is one of the most giving sacrificial acts any couple can make. Within only seconds of feeling like God was speaking right to me, doubt started to creep in with thoughts of a child with horrible mental problems and worse, at which time God reminded me he does not give us a spirit of fear but a sound mind and also we are to think on thing that are pure and true, noble, just, pure of good report, having virtue or anything praise worthy... One reason I think that adoption is scary for me is that I as many people do struggle with selfishness I have thought about adoption before only to push it out of my mind because I don't want a child to look for its biological parents after I have given them a home and loved them... How SELFISH is that! I am just being honest, but today was different, I know that no matter what my three children want in life I will try with Gods help to aid them in. I would go to the end of the world for my kids! I was so moved that I went to Daddy and asked him to pray with me right in the parking lot, we prayed that God would use us 100% that we would never hold anything back from God we both desire from the bottom of our heart to be fully and whole heartily used by God for the work of Jesus Christ. I am not sure what will happen next only God knows, what I do know is that I was meant to be a mother and Jay was meant to be a father and that three children are not enough for me I feel we have way to much to offer, and I also know if somewhere in the country or even in this world God has a child for us I want to give that child a chance a chance to grow in a family where Daddy and Mommy love each other where we love our children no matter what and where they get to know about Jesus everyday, and even if someday they would want to know about biological parents I want to be selfless enough to go with them and thank this person for blessing us with their child. I am continuing to pray for Gods will and not mine in this plan. I know for sure that God tells us the plans he has for us are to prosper us and not to harm us to give us a hope and a future, I love that verse it is a verse to really meditate on to really know God is in control. So what ever we do if it is the will of God it will be good and add much happiness to our family.

Tattoo

Tattoo

This is my Mother's Day present! I just love it, yes it hurt.... but I am very pleased with this design. I have been thinking it up for some time now and with the help of a very talented Christian tattoo artist we came up with this, the large stake is representing the stake that held Jesus feet the two small stakes represent the stakes in Jesus hands and the crown of thorns is for the crown so cruelly placed on Jesus head.
I am excited for the opportunity to share Jesus Christ in an all new way, my other tattoo of a christian fish symbol is right under the pant line so it is unseen for the most part, this tattoo is in between the shoulder blades and fairly close to my neck so while wearing tank tops and sun dresses it will be seen.
It took a little over 2 hours, I was mostly thankful that I found a Christian tattoo artist, it really amazes me to find this long haired, fully tattooed, large gauge earings waering guy who is a happily married father of two children and a christian and is turned away from so many churches due to the way he looks, I wonder how would I have perceived him if I had not had the opportunity to talk to him, get to know him, better yet how do people see my husband who has several tattoos, is he treated differently because of them? I am so greatful that God is always growing and changing me opening my eyes to the way he sees people not the way my southern baptist up bringing scarred my thinking for so many years. Look at the awesome opportunity this artist has to witness to so many people....
So thanks to my kids and wonderful husband who worked over time in the 80 degree heat so I could have another piece of witness wear.

Mother's Day Weekend

Our plans are always changing... You think after having a husband that traveled for 11 years I would be used to by plans being changed! Oh or that I have 3 kids and whenever and whatever never really seem to go as smoothly as I anticipate.
Reese came home from the hospital on Wed. two days early, we are all so happy! Dana and Joe feel like it would be a good idea if the kids (my kids) kept their distance for a few weeks... I being a parent for over five years know we can not go if the kids can't be close to the baby, my kids have been praying for the babies everyday right along with Daddy and I ever since Dana became pregnant, Luke really wants to see them. I completely understand as new parents why they would want to hold off on visitors. When Luke(the first) was born I kept him protected from the world for a while, never letting other kids even come close... So we are really disappointed, we can't wait until we can be with both of the babies and Joe and Dana feel comfortable with the whole situation.
I am really struggling with jealousy that my family get to see and hold Reese without me, but I am trying my hardest to get over it! I just can't wait to see them and quite frankly am not used to being left out.
I do not in any way want Dana or Joe to feel uncomfortable about their little girl, this is such a long awaited time.
I look forward to a few days with just the kids and Daddy, now that we have 3 new roommates I will cherish our time alone a little more.
Daddy and i are Going on a Date tonight, we are going to go to Starbucks and to get my mothers day gift... A Tattoo. AHHHH I am going to get another tattoo this tattoo will be of a cross on the center of my back, the cross will be made of two metal stakes like the stakes used to puncture Jesus hand while he hung on the cross. It will also have a crown of thorns on the top of the cross. I have wanted it for a long time and we are getting it for mothers day.

Tate and Reese in May

Boy the babies are getting bigger! The first picture is of Reese, picture two is of both little babies Tate is at the top and Reese on the bottom with NO feeding tube... The third picture is of baby girl with a little bow in her hair, and the last picture is of Tate sleeping.
Reese gets to come home on Friday, I am so excited. I can only imagine the level of excitment and joy and fear Dana and Joe are experiencing
I can remember bringing Luke home, wondering if he would nurse well will he sleep well WHAT AM I DOING!!!
I was really happy and nervous!
We have not been given a date for Tate's hospital release yet, although I think it will be very soon.

My whole family is going up to Dana and Joes house this weekend to celebrate Mothers Day. We get to see Reese at the house, Wow I can not wait! We have waited so long to see her and Tate at home this will be wonderful and soon we will be able to cuddle them both!
Although I am super excited to go and see the babies this weekend, I do feel bad for Dana because the first few days at home are so incredibly
special I just hate to intrude on this time, but with my Grandma having cancer we all feel like before she starts her radiation treatments and does not feel like traveling we need to spend as
much time together as a family as possible, and what a great Mothers Day gift for all the mothers in my family! So we will be driving up on Saturday for a quick over night trip.

chocolate chip cookie squares

1 box yellow cake mix (dry)
2 eggs
10 tlbs melted butter
1 bag milk or semi sweet chocolate chips

Grease a 9x13 pan mix the cake mix with the egg and butter when well combined add the chips. Spread into the pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Stay Home Ladies it Pays More!!!!!

I was very surprised to read in Fox News today that the average stay at home mom would earn $138,095 yearly if paid for all of her duty's... WOW! It goes on to say that the average stay at home mom is considered a housekeeper, cook, day care provider, teacher, nurse, therapist, laundry machine operator, van driver, office manager, janitor and a computer operator. It also says that we put in an average of 92 hours a week. Thank you Fox News for noticing our value today! I enjoyed reading this it really made me laugh due to the fact I often tell Jay you could never afford to pay me! I LOVE my job and I get paid is smiles, hugs, kisses, and I Love Yous, and would have it no other way!

Weight Watchers!

First of all I love this Dress! I am really proud of myself today, I am only 2 lbs from my goal weight! Go me Go! I have lost over 90 lbs all together yes thats 90. I went from a size 22 to a 8, and even sometimes a 6... I unlike most woman love to tell my size and weight, after you are 225 lbs you will shout to the world 140 140 140 go me!!!!! I still count my points and follow the program although I no longer go to meetings. I think weight watchers is such a good program I will always sing thier praises! I will propably always follow it, whenever I stray I gain weight, so I will carry that point finder for life if I have to. Being thin makes me a happier me, it gives me the self esteem I need. I can play with the kids longer and I have energy, I'm not sore, my back used to hurt so bad... Daddy took this picture on Easter, Bo would not get in so it's just Luke, Dasiy and I. I also LOVE that my princess looks like her mommy! I don't think I will ever get sick of people telling me that! And I think Luke looks like me too. Last week we had the plesure of being with Dana and she said Luke made a face that looked just like Daddy, I think sometimes he does look like his dad. And boy he is getting tall for almost 6, or I'm just really short. I guess if I was 5'10 I could even gain a few pounds, I have always thought of myself as a tall girl what a be... Anyway Weight Watchers is Great!

7 kids...

I had the pleasure of helping out a girl friend the other day... I watched her 4 children, plus my 3, yes 7 children ages 9 to 20 months old, I was expecting to be on my toes all afternoon, to my pleasant surprise all the kids got a long great, no fighting to fussing no yelling no crying no problem! I really enjoyed having the other children here not just because my sons and daughter got to play with some other home schooled children but also because I was helping out their mother. I really saw all of the parents efforts to make well mannered children come to pass they used their pleases and thank yous. I hope if given the opportunity or need for my children to be watched they behave the same!