Blueberries, Beach and Birthdays!

O.K., so I am embarrassed about not keeping up with the blog thing. Just not enough hours in the day to do all of the "hobbies" that I have. I wanted to update on all of the summer activities now that it is over! We always start out the summer by going to Lyrene's and picking blueberries. I love doing it with my kids, but ladies, I am serious about having my freezer stocked. This year I picked about 25 lbs. Crazy I know...The beach was amazing this year! No jellyfish and the kids were easy. Did I say easy? Anyway, we had a great time and got plenty of sun. Birthdays....well, sweet Andrew is two. I cannot believe it! It makes me feel so old. Which brings to mind another birthday that we will not mention. I am going to try to post more often. With this and facebook it is hard to keep up. Love to all!!!

Is it summer already?

There is so much to update...I feel so behind! I'll start with Andrew. His favorite form of communication is still screaming. He puts a couple of words together, like "Daddy car" and "sissy's love love" (Elizabeth's bunny), however he still screams all the time to get his needs met. Elizabeth swallowed a light bright piece the week after the rubber band incident. "It was blue" she told me. I am trusting the doctors that it "went through her system", was not going to dig for that! Anna Hartsel stuck a polly pocket piece in her ear...that was fun considering her personality. (She is VERY particular and delicate). Ellis finished his first season of baseball. Have to say he is pretty atheletic! He is getting bigger and more mature. He just is growing up. I can't believe I have a seven year old. We are very excited about the summer....already two weeks into it. WOW! Anyway, VBS is next week and then we head to Texas to visit the Dawkins and Fairs. We are looking forward to hanging out with "old" friends. More later.

Elizabeth....again!

O.k. so I don't have a picture for this one....Elizabeth comes to me ALL the time at night. She is definately our night owl. Anyway, tonight was no different. She came in the office telling me she had to go to the bathroom, her shoes were on her bed, she didn't want her babies on her bed, she is thirsty and yes, she has to go to the bathroom again! So the next one got me. She says, "Mommy, my silky (her new obsession because Emily has a silky) has blood on it from my nose." I am thinking....typical nose bleed. OH NO...not with Elizabeth. "Mommy, I stuck a head band up my nose and it is bleeding" I am not to panic stage yet because there is no headband coming out of her nose. So I probe with more questions..."Mommy, I put a headband in my mouth..." I finish for her, "and it came out of your nose?" "Uh, huh" I was talking to the other half of my brain (Denise) and she and I both said..."call the Pursleys" By now my stomach is in knots, of course John is not home, my mind is going everywhere...she tore membrane tissue, etc. I have a brief conversation with Dr. Pursley. He is on his way. The long and short of it. Elizabeth stuck a rubber band (the kind you put your hair up with) in her nose. It was so far up in there I couldn't get it out. Who says we don't live in a small town anymore??? A pleasant doctor who makes house calls....I love Fairhope and the Pursleys :)

Down by the bay...

It's about time I updated...we did the tulip thing today. I told myself not to get stressed to get the "perfect" picture, we all had a great time. I am so enjoying Andrew. I don't know if it is because he is the last one, or is it just him. We all love his personality. I also have a different perspective on things since Alaina's death. My heart aches and tears literally roll down my face as I think of the void sweet Hope and Billy feel. Hope posted the picture we all saw at the funeral. What peace on little Alaaina's face! "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" Praise be to God! I love you sweet Hope and I will be praying for you!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Can you believe these two pictures are Elizabeth? She turned three on Monday, we celebrated on Sunday. What a great day all the way around. I ran in my first half marathon Sunday morning, went for a massage and lunch with my running partners and then home to a warm home to celebrate. Although I had to sit most of the "celebration", I enjoyed seeing the light in her eyes while Ellis and Anna Hartsel opened her gifts:)

Love to all!

Don't you just love getting Christmas card pictures and wondering how many tries it took the parents to get "just the right one"? We probably took a gazillion pictures at my parent's house on Christmas Eve for that "perfect picture". This is the best one we got. This was the best Christmas yet. We really enjoyed watching the kids enjoy their gifts. After a fun New Year's Eve, I am ready to get back into the swing of things. John is at the Sugar Bowl while I am planning tomorrow's activities without children! I do love them and I love homeschooling, but get very overwhelmed at times. I know this is part of the sanctification road for me...God is good to let me grow with my children at my side, but for now....Mommy needs a break:)More later...

Full of Blessings

Did I mention that I LOVE homeschooling. I am so honored to be able to teach my children about the Lord "when I sit in my house, when I walk along the way, when I lie down and when I rise up". Right now we know that this is what we are called to do. God is so good to bless me along the way. I am beginning to see fruit in Ellis and Anna Hartsel....I mean heart changes. I am thankful that I am here to see this. I have to keep this in perspective when I am cleaning the toilets at church....my second job. Yes, I have a Master's Degree and I am cleaning toilets, but I get to teach my children about the meaning of life...serving Christ! What a blessing. "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!"