Crossing Over, Moving Up

May 17th was cross over for our pack. Zeke crossed over from being a Wolf Cub to a Bear Cub. It's hard to believe we're going into our third year of Cub Scouts!

Above - my gift from Zeke's teacher. Below - my gift from the librarian! 

May 25th was Zeke's last day of school! He is officially DONE with the second grade! Wow! I have a THIRD GRADER!!! Yikes! They say kids grow up fast and that is the truth!! The reality of this is it for our family and public school is setting in...we are a homeschoolin' family! AHHH!! It won't be official til school starts (August?) but still, we aren't public schoolers anymore. It's definitely bitter sweet! When Zeke originally started at Silver City, I was less than thrilled about them. (He went to a different school for kindgarten, and started SCES 1st grade.) The first lady I met there wasn't very sympathic and actually kind of rude. Then their car pool line was innnsane, to say the least. So unorganized, took forever. I would get there an hour before school let out, yet they would never have Zeke to me til literally the cars in the back were getting their kids. Obviously it got better a couple weeks into school (1st grade year). 2nd grade I was preparing for the worst but it was never as bad as the previous year. I volunteered on a weekly basis. Actually averaging 2+ days a week. I met and got close with some people. These relationships I'll miss. I actually grew to love this school. I used to compare to Zeke's first school (Sawnee) but now I say Sawnee can learn from Silver City. :) Wednesday the 23rd was the end of year party for Zeke's class. His teacher gave me a gift! She cried when she talked about the kids. She bought every kid a trophy with 3 stars. First star representing the parents, second star representing community (teacher), and third star representing the kids, raising above. Very sweet. The kids also got awards or certificates and they voted on each other. Zeke got ball of energy. I cracked up! Very appropriate! We will miss SCES and Mrs. Starr and every body there! Happy Summer, everyone!

A Time To Reconcile

Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven". I am currently experiencing a time of reconciliation. Over the past few months I have been reconciled with some friends. For various reasons, we either intentionally or unintentionally lost contact with one another. Have you ever experienced something and just feel God all in it? That's how this experience in this season of life feels for me. I'm overwhelmed with thankFULness. I am filled with love and joy, excitement and hope. I feel so encouraged. I want to be more like Him. I want to show my gratitude. God is good and I am going to thoroughly enjoy this TIME in my life, under heaven. :)

the moments I'm going to miss!

As I was dropping Zeke off at school this morning, I noticed the car behind me was a boy in Zeke's Cub Scout den and the car behind that one was also a fellow Cub Scout-er and Zeke's best friend. All our boys greeted each other with smiles and walked as a group into the school. It melted my heart. This is part of what I love about Cub Scouts and what I'm going to miss about school. Including today, 9 days to go!

Mother's Day Weekend 2012

For the first time since starting his new job about two months ago, Perry had this weekend off. It could not have come at a better time! One, for the obvious - MOTHERS DAY =) - but also because it had just been a difficult week for our family and we really needed some quality time as a family. It has been incredibly nice having my hubby around! I mean, just to know I'm not facing the day alone (which obviously I'm never alone, God is always there, but ya know what I mean), it's been nice for the kids to have their daddy around. Just his presence in our house...ahhh, so nice. :-)

Saturday morning I woke up early intentionally. I wanted some time to weed in the garden before the day started and got hectic. For whatever reason, I find it so peaceful in the garden. Just being outside, listening to the birds singing, feeling the breeze, being so close to God in His gorgeous creation. Love it. Simply love it. 

This morning was particularly special. Zeke wanted to help me. Shortly after, Asher came to join. I genuinely appreciate and value this alone time I was able to spend with my sons. Ya know, something I have got to say is reading these marriage books I'm not only learning a lot about Perry and how men think/are, why they do what they do, but it's helping me to learn a lot about my boys. I'm learning how their minds work, why they don't see what I see when I ask them to look for something, etc. I'm learning to appreciate my boys in new ways. I am excited and honored that part of my job description as their mom is to help encourage them to be good, Godly men and I can start by leading by example. It's exciting to know what they witness at home will reflect how they act in their own marriages one day, how they treat their own kids one day. Big responsiblity, for sure, but one that I'll take gladly!

Anyways, below is a picture of Asher helping water the garden. I did take a picture of Zeke helping me weed, but for whatever reason it didn't go through to my email and I already deleted it on my phone. =/ But let the record show, Zeke was a huge help and I so enjoyed conversating (?) with him! 

During our time together I also realized my boys aren't so little anymore. They're growing (fast) into young men. As this is exciting to watch them grow up and see who they'll become, it also saddens me at the same time. I will miss these days! I miss the ones that have past already! But it helps me to realize how precious each day is and how important it is to be aware of my behavior towards them, around them, etc. Can't mess this up - today is the only day we'll get!

Saturday afternoon, Perry went to the movies with his big brother. The kiddos and I visited a friend, Amber, who was closing up shop from her yard sale and she kindly gave us some things that she would have otherwise donated! Then we got a phone call from grandma Lisa and papa Dane to come over - they have bought Asher a bow and arrow (Zeke already has one), purchased Zeke more arrows and more bb's for his gun. Papa Dane is so good about doing things with the boys and making them feel like little men! Grandma also bought Macie a new pair of pj's and an outfit! It was a nice visit!

Macie is thoroughly enjoying all this quality time she is getting to spend with her daddy! They've been cuddling a lot! She even took a couple steps to him Saturday night! It's an amazing thing to witness the love these two have for one another! She adores her daddy and she is his world!

Sweet girl enjoying a lollipop at church while we were waiting for the traffic to clear.

Me and my silly girl, Mothers Day 2012.

Me n my boys, Mothers Day 2012.

Above is a picture of the cookie cake Perry bought for his mother and I. After church we headed to her house where we enjoyed this yummy treat (and where I'm fully taking advantage of the wifi ; ) ). Next, we're going to head out for lunch somewhere and I'm just thankful for more family time before we jump into another busy week!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Nothin' But Good News

Today I was able to get together with my mentor, Anne, for the first time in about a month and a half. She's been going through a lot, health-wise, but is bouncing back. What a blessing as she had us all scared there for a moment! As we were talking, catching up on what's been going on in our lives, it really stood out...His amazingness (did I just make that word up? Lol) let me explain. Earlier today, I got in this rare (and I mean RARE) mood to deep clean my bedroom. As I was, I stumbled across an old notebook. See, I've been known to write many a letterd in my day, and I even write to God. This one was dated, like, the first of Nov. 2009. I remember that time last it was yesterday. In my letter to God, I spoke about my complete dislike of where I was working (telemarketing w/ druggies - sounds harsh but I would be at my desk and witness drug deals going down). That job was very difficult for me; 1) I didn't feel like I was bettering the world in anyway - in fact, I was an annoyance. 2) it wasn't even that beneficial for my family financially and 3) I just felt so lost there. And I didn't agree with what was going on. It was so sooo much. In my letter I spoke to God about this. And about my desire to have another child. Somewhere in the letter I mentioned that I feel like He is not there (ouch, can't believe I wrote that). I speak of my marriage, who I am/was, feeling overwhelmed, etc. WOW. That was an insane time in my life but guess what I realized after I reread that from 2 1/2 years ago? GOD IS THERE and He heard me. It was in that same week I got a job interview for a new job, a better job, and I accepted the job offer. It wasn't but 7 months later that I found out I was expecting Macie! And, the feeling of being overwhelmed and the cry for my marriage - well, those feelings went away. Of course marriage is and probably always will be a struggle but my husband and I are in such a better place now. Here's my thing. Did I seriously not realize how He answered my prayer til today? Have I really wasted so much time choosing to feel like I was all alone when in reality He was there along? WOW. So back to today and speaking with Anne, I had nothing but a praise report to give. God has truly blessed our efforts! In the beginning of February, Perry and I started a program called MoneyWise which pretty much teaches us how to be good stewards with God's money. Since February, we have been more cautious of our spending habits, created a budget, and prayed like mad. Sometimes it has felt like our prayers weren't being answered; that we were alone? The days felt like they were going by slowly, painfully slow. But now, just two months into it, God has blessed my husband with a MUCH better job. Its an 8 minute drive from our house, he gets more than 3 hours of sleep per night ( whoop, whoop!) and there's benefits! How a awesome is that?! But that's not all - FINALLY, we're ahead on bills, we're actually saving for things BEFORE we need 'em! For once I feel at peace in my heart about our finances and our future looks more hopeful than it did before! So again, God answered another prayer of mine, and though it felt trying amd difficult at the time, almost like there was no improvement so we might as well give up - that wasn't really the case at all! Wow! Anne was thrilled for us and I was thrilled to share the news! God is good. He really is. I'm learning so much about Him lately ....I am just so AMAZED!! :)

Field Day 2012

Today was field day for Zeke at school. It was kind of bitter sweet; this may really be his last field day in a public school setting. I'm thankful that I've been able to attend all of his field days. Ya know, as much as I was taken back by this school at first, I'm really going to miss some things about it. This year I have been more involved and have met some really nice people, and I enjoyed getting to serve/help the teachers. Ultimately though, I am at total peace with the whole homeschool decision. I am confident it is what God wants for our family, at least for this season in life. I have done a lot of research; joined two different homeschool groups, met and talked with several homeschoolers, attended homeschool events, went to homeschool stores, and researched a lot of programs. I'm feelin' really good about this and I can honestly say that I'm excited to get started! Anyways, back to field day. Asher, Macie and I went for about an hour this morning and took some pics. Will post 'em soon!

Our Garden

Yesterday, April 15th, we started our garden! Woohoo! Last year, we did a garden with our then neighbors. It was pretty successful minus the corn. This year, we went halfies with some good friends of ours, the Ott family. Our landlord plowed the ground for us and we sprinkled some coffee grinds with each plant/seed. We planted A LOT of stuff! Tomatoes, several different kinds of peppers, carrots, peas, green beans, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, squash, cantaloupe - there may be more, I can't remember! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to grow a garden again and to do it with such wonderful friends!

Miss Mace-Mace chillaxin'!

Baby Bryson snoozin' in Macie's old bassinet. 

Michael and Perry hard at work! They actually did most of the planting but I don't feel too bad about that because it will be Amber and I who keep up with the weeding, watering, etc. :)

All our kids playing in the dirt!

Kaitlyn, Zeke, Asher, and Brianna!

Me and my bebe!

Amber and her lil' man!

Oh, how I love these kids!

Our garden after everything being planted! CAN'T WAIT!!!