Our Little Pumpkin Is Turning Three!

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17 (Francie's verse)

Yesterday we celebrated Francie's third birthday! Of course we went to dinner at our favorite Pablo's and had pink cupcakes for dessert!! I can't believe my baby girl is three years old!! She has grown up so much faster than Will it seems!! Not long after Will turned three I found out I was pregnant with Francie! She was such a cute and cuddly little girl. She has always been sweet and gentle. I remember when she was born I would wrap her up in pink and hold her forever! I don't think I put her down for at least two months! It is so awesome to have a girl! The ribbons and bows and shiny ruby slippers, dresses, tiaras, dolls, purses, pink, flowers, tea parties and ruffles! Francie is such a girly girl- even a little diva at times. She is my wish come true! She is such a delight! I love her so much!! She really makes this world enchanting!
Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!

WOW!!

I'm back!! I know I have been missed! It has been forever since I have blogged! I have now started my new job at Shades Mountain and things are finally starting to smooth out! The least bit of change in my world and I am completely gone! It's like my body, mind,and emotions forget how to function! I think I am doing better with things now!! I love my new job and my new friends. And the kids have adjusted well!! Praise God!! I can't believe Will is in first grade! He has grown up so fast! He loves school and he is very smart! I'm glad to have both of my children at my school with me again!
FYI- Will has had a couple of firsts- 1. He has finally lost a tooth!!
2. He got to go to his first Alabama football game!! He was so excited!! I'm so glad they won the game!




We had my Dad's 60th birthday at Oak Mountain and it was so fun!!














Kendall and Abby (two of my beautiful friends)

"Be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will do great things." Joel 2:21

Top 5 Favorites this Summer
5. Tractor Pull
4. Took the Restoration Academy "Swim Team" to the lake
3. Baron's Game on the 4th of July
2. Tea Party with the girls at Mrs. Rosemarie's
1. My Birthday at the Lake!!





Lots of new changes in our world!! First of all, I resigned at Brookwood Baptist (BooHoo)! This fall I will teach Kindergarten at Shades Mountain Christian School- which is like coming home, since that is where I did my student teaching and the first three years of my career!! Will will start first grade and Francie will be in K-3. I am more nervous about them changing schools and adjusting,than I am about me starting a new class. I love the school,though!! It will be great having both of my kids at school with me. Since I am not a stay at home mom, it is the next best thing! I am sure Will will miss going to school with his daddy! Last year was such a blessing and a real special time for Will!! For me I am glad to get to reunite with my friend, Melissa. I am praying that this will be a wonderful year!! However, I will miss my friends at Brookwood Baptist sooooo much! I love them dearly, they have truly taught me what friendship is all about!!



Alright, there is only a couple of more weeks til school starts!! This summer has flown by sooooo fast! I thought that when I went back to school the "summer" would be over- well far from it we have been so busy, mostly, having fun!! These are some pictures of my favorite things about this summer!!

Boo Hoo!!

I started back to work this week after 3 short weeks of summer vacation!! I don't want to complain because I am so grateful to have had even this much time off. It has been five years since I have had a "summer"! I already miss sleeping in til 9:00,having no schedule, and spending quality time with Will and Francie!! It has been so nice to focus on them instead of on everyone else's children!
This has been a well-needed break! We had a blast!! We had fun with our cousins and friends- and tried to make the most of the time off! We went on a weekend trip to Florence-which was amazing! We visited a friend and we went to a tractor pull,a children's museum, fountains you can play in, a park with a train, and we saw the lions at the University of North Alabama (they are the mascots and on campus is a lion habitat- it is awesome)!!! We also met friends to swim with and our cousins to jump it up and play in the sprinklers! I will cherish this time with my children forever!
I am trying to remember that SUMMER IS NOT OVER YET! There is still fun to be had before school starts again!!

Beat to Death Like a Dog

So, I think it's time that I break my steely silence and let you people into my summer world. It can be easily summed up in one word: hot. No, not like the kids use it to describe good music (etc.) but like the amigos would call, calor. That is Spanish for hot, like a hot day in the sun. Indeed, I am once again on the payroll of PESI, which is my cousin's landscape company. Each day I am constantly reminded of being a kid in day camp. I get sweaty and dirty and eat lunch out of a cooler under a shade tree. What is new since day camp is the sounds of broken Spanish and English between myself and the 4 amigos and the muscle strains and aches. In the words of the metal band, Rhinobucket, I feel "beat to death like a dog" by the end of most days.
Now, I know what your thinking, here's this guy that's supposed to be in urban missions, and while his wife is quoting scripture in every post, he's talking about Mexicans and quoting disgusting metal bands. Well, my friend, I do have some scripture for you, and it is a verse that I think about many days. In the book of I Thessalonians, Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica to emplore them to keep the faith, and to continue to live lives worthy of the Risen Savior. In chapter 4 verse 11 and 12 he reminds them to "work with your hands, as we instructed you so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." It seems that in the ancient Greek world, it had become less than fashionable to actually get dirt under your fingernails and do things yourself. Doesn't that sound a little familiar? It seems that we in this country are becoming more and more dependent on others, maybe people that we wouldn't normally be comfortable looking in the eye, to help us survive. Paul was telling the Thessalonians and us to not forget the positives of being blue collar! Well, I for one haven't and I say "Rock on Paul and rock on Rhinobucket."

Yardman out...

Happy Father's Day!!!

"...and the glory of the children is their father." Proverbs 17:6

This Father's Day was sooo much fun!! Dad and Mom, Page and Jason, Noah, Anna, and Mary, and my Grandparents from Huntsville came to my house!! We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs! We had my mom's baked beans (the best ever) and banana pudding (my great aunt's recipe-also the best ever)!! It was great food and great company. I love to visit with everyone. It was such a beautiful day!! The kids had an awesome time. They played out back in the Elmo sprinkler!!

It really couldn't have been a better day -which is perfect to celebrate my wonderful father and the most perfect father of my children!! I am truly blessed to have these two men in my life!! Thank you Dad for being such an encouraging and nurturing Dad. Thank you Clint for being the best Dad ever to our children!! I love to watch you play, love, and care for Will and Francie!! They love you sooo much and so do I!!!

The Tag Stops Here!

I hate these things!! It's so hard for me to open up, even to myself. But I have been tagged twice so I guess I better go ahead and get this over with!!



Favorite person (outside family)? unfair question!! I can't answer that!!

Favorite food? Steak and potatoes

Quirks about you? Too many to even go there!

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less? He said "Love of my life!!"

Any regrets in life? Letting others make me feel bad!

Favorite Charity/ Cause? Any missions

Favorite Blog recently? Jamie's blog- that little Trace's video is sooo cute!!

Something you can’t get enough of? Quality time with my family!!

Worst job you’ve ever had? I'm lucky to have always had great jobs!!

What job would you pay NOT to have? Any job where I had to work outdoors! I hate to sweat!

If you could be a fly on the wall, where? I'm with Page, I'd like to be in my children's classrooms seeing how they act!!

Favorite Bible verse right now? Psalm 121 "....my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth..."

Guilty Pleasure? CHOCOLATE!!

Got any confessions? I love food too much!!

If you HAD to spend $1,000 on YOURSELF, how would you spend it? Either new furniture or a Nikon digital camera!!

Favorite thing about your house? It was built in 1925!! hardwood floors... huge fireplace... large add on... huge front porch...french doors into master bedroom!!!

Least favorite thing about your house? It got broke into!!

One thing you are bad at? making close friends

One thing you’re good at? baking

If you could change something about your circumstances, what? finances

Who would you like to meet someday? June and Johnny Cash! I guess I'll have to wait til heaven!

What makes you feel sexy? Black bra and panties!!! OOH LALA

Who is your real life hero? My Dad, I have watched him grow so much into a wonderful man!!

What is the hardest part of your job? Saying the same thing over and over all day long! (I teach 5 year olds!)

When are you most relaxed? Laying on the beach!!

What stresses you out? What doesn't!!

What can you not live without? Sunshine!

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article that reported that blogs are authored by narcissists? Not so much

Why do you blog? So our friends and family can see what's going on with our family!