Shout out~

To Staci for getting me out of the house this weekend!!! We went to Kohl's because I had to return some shirts & ended up trying on clothes & laughing at each other. It was nice to gab without interuptions. And take our time looking around the store. After Kohls we headed to the mall since Staci had some Bath & Body Works bucks that were about to expire. Their semi-annual sale starts on Monday.....I usually grab two or three things to stick back since the prices are SO reasonable then. Next we jumped in the car & headed to Chic-Fil-A where we TRIED to redeem coupons that Staci had. The girl must have been new because the coupons threw here for a loop. In fact the lady at B & B had a bit of a hard time as well. Anyways, THANK you Staci! I had an awesome couple of hours! Oh yeah, then today we went yard sale-ing with her sister & Mom. I bought a few things & Stack/mom bought the whole town. JK! They always find good deals. I had a great time breaking my routine of Home, Walmart, church, Home again. Yea!

Sam has another softball game tonight.....another Friday I will sit at home minus daddy. I wish I had my liscense so we could go watch. It's at 9pm. I'm bored already! I've gotta do something, get out of the house someway! IT's been a long week. Memorial Day, my birthday (sick) , then Zeke & Sam got sick, then a softball game & now another one. Grr. I need a break for just a minute or two. Did I mention I need my liscense?

Pardon Me~

So I'm at the YMCA tonight up on the track. This is my favorite place because there are only a few people there. I'm walking on the treadmill and this couple starts walking on the track. At first they are walking hand in hand. Cute but not really why we're here. Then the guy puts his arm around his girlfriend. Not so cute and they are taking up almost the entire track & people have to walk sideways to get by. It was annoying but didn't last very long. Am I just anti-romance or what???? There is a track outside, I think that would have been a great place for a couple to walk.

Sum, Sum, Summertime

Today isn't much of a summer day but the weather is certainly getting warmer! I've been on ebay looking for some clothes for Sam & I. Specifically a bathing suit for me.

The summer calendar is already starting to fill up. Graduates Sunday, Father's Day, Youth Camp, beach trip, birthdays ( we have three so during the summer) Forth of July........

I want to do a special birhtday party for Sam because he turn 30 this year. He wants a 70's, 80's & 90's party. He's such a nut. I know the place & the time but we've got to get money together for deposits. It should be fun!

Zeke is almost two!!!!! It's so sad!!! This age is my favorite though! They learn so quickly and are starting to communicate with you. Their little personalities step it up a notch!

As with the beginning of any season I'm glad that there is a change in the air. It gives me something to look forward to. And lots to be thankful for!

Zeke and Sam are sick now. Poor fellas!

It's my birthday & I'm sick! But we did have a good Memorial weekend. We did the usual cookout thing, homeade ice cream, games & stuff. We had some of our youth kids over. IT was fun, today---not so much!

Memorial Day

Well, the entire world will be here today. Not really but my brother did envite some friends over for our family cookout. They will be here soon so I gotta get ready. We're doing the normal stuff. Hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, baked beans, potato salad, and whatever desserts we can scrounge up. My dad will make homemade ice cream-yummy!!!!! There will be twenty six people here instead of the 'normal' 14, pray for me! And for our poor bathroom, with that many people here it's sure to get a workout!

Sunday's are such long days! I guess it's because I'm used to being here all day long that going to church makes it seem like the day lasts forever! Our Pastor is out of town this weekend. They went to see their daughter graduate from Fort Myer MC. SO we had a guest speaker today, they are evangelist so I was just hoping that it would be extra long. Is that bad???? I mean if GOD's spirit is moving I'm not gonna be watching the clock or anything. But sometimes guests take all the time in the world to say it. Anyways, today was great, the message was great, and God was there. ALL those silly thoughts for nothing!

Woo-hoo

Sam is home early!!!!! The weather didn't turn out great for a car wash! Sorry kids aka youth....we're outta here. Going for dinner & a movie with Josh & Aubrey! Normally we only get to do one or the other but since it's so early in the day we will do both. Now to figure out what to watch & where to eat. And clean up real quick before the babysitter gets here! Gotta go! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Tonight Sam has a church event & since there is no childcare I won't be going. SO we must entertain ourselves on a Friday night. What to do??? I think we will work some on Sam's Father's Day card. IT is a BLue's Clue's color by numbers and it has bunches of coloring to do. I got two, one for each of the boys to do because if Zeke 'messes it up' Justus will be extremely upset. SO they each have their own.

Sam will be busy again tommorrow as well doing a car wash to raise money for youth camp. Then I hope we can sneak in dinner and a movie. We'll see how tired he is, it all depends on the weather as to how long they will be out there and how fried crispy he will be. Fun in the sun!

So very sad~

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

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The girl, Maria, was hit in the driveway of the family's home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren't available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

A publicist for Chapman's charity organization said the family was expected to release a statement later Wednesday night.

Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They have three biological children.

The singer's Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site.

"We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.'"

The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess." He has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

(This version CORRECTS 2nd graf to 'spokeswoman')

Email Story

Emergency Phone

For the next week & a half Sam has the church's new emergency cell phone. Everyone in the church has the number. So basically he is on call for a while. I'm not thrilled with this idea! Most people already have his cell phone number because it's in the church directory. So we get calls of all kinds consistently. I guess we don't really have a choice in the matter but I am hoping that people will use common sense and only call in case of emergency. Only time will tell. I also think there should be some compensation for this but that is just wishful thinking. Ministry is a 24/7 life, you can't really turn it off. It's not a 9-5 job. You all can relate. Life doesn't stop just because you need some quiet time or hubby time, or anything else.

Where will it go from here??

Justus has been asking a lot of questions lately. Today is was "do daddies have babies?' I'm thinking 'You're 4, could we save these questions for a few years down the road or at least when daddy is around. I guess it's a result of talking about Aubrey's baby. She got a new due date......the day after Christmas! December could be interesting around here. And apparently my conversations with Justus have been kicked up a notch as well!

Growing up

AWE~ My little guy is growing up. We were trying to do a 'trim' which obviously turned into a full fledged hair cut, I was disappointed because we were going to wait until he turned two. He looks so grow up to me now. It's crazy what a haircut will do. From behind he looks alot like Justus did at that age so I automatically get a trip down memory lane. Bittersweet!
Before


After

No softball tonight!!! We'll be going to the YMCA all together! Justus loves it when daddy comes because Sam makes an extra effort to do something with him. Usually I just drop them off & go do my thing but Sam is there for fun so he takes Justus swimming or they play basketball together or pretend to play raquetball. Justus is hilarious at that!!! Zeke is even worse. But it's all fun when we're all together!!!! The other thing they like to do is play in the game room where there is a pool table, fuseball table & video games! I like it better too when daddy is around, I just feel more secure with hubby in tow!

It's Sunday again....and my week in the nursery this month. I love the nursery!!! I never did before having kids but now I love it!!!!! Babies are such a treasure!!! Such a gift from GOD.

Tonight is also the Daughters Banquet, basically since its Mother's Day month we celebrate moms/daughters and get together for some food and fun. The Men of Honor cook, clean and serve. A special treat for everyone!

Today was supposed to be Sam's only Saturday off in May. Two simple emails changed that...we now have plans for the entire day. Yippee. I love it when people make plans for us! ON the other hand we do have an opportunity to serve & help others so it won't be so bad. One saturday a month, is that to much to ask???? Evidently it is!

On vacation we will go!

We're going to the beach!!!!! YEAH!!!!! We found a place for $250/week, I think it's a good price. Is it? It has three bedrooms, two baths & a sun room. I do wish they had a swimming pool but I'm not complaining at all! We'll go in July for Sam & Ezekiel's birthday! This is our FIRST family vacation. Since we've been married Sam & I have only been on vacation twice. The first time we went to Orlando, that was when we found out for sure that I was pregnant with Justus. Then when right before Ezekiel was born we went to the Biltmore House during their festival of flowers. It's going on right now but we couldn't get away. I still would like to go again! Anyways, from now until it comes I will be watching the mail like a hawk for our stimulus check. If for some odd reason it doesn't come be will have to cut our stay short. Hopefully it will get here soon!

Food for thought...

Sorry the pic is so small but I couldn't get it to work right.

Have you seen?

The commercial where the dad is changing the kid & he pees everywhere? It's pretty funny. At least Sam & I got a good laugh out of it. The kid is peeing like a race horse all over the place on the bed & wall, and he knocks over a picture. It's a huggies commerical & anyways I thought it was funny.