I love to decorate for Fall

I love the colors of Fall.  Burnt orange, mustard, barn red, mahogany, brown, olive.

I use the top of my husband's grandmother's hutch to make a full display of pumpkins, leaves, and the colors I love so much.  These are a few of my favorite Fall treasures.  I'm rather fond of my crow, I think it's cute.

I just love berries.  Any kind, any color.  Not sure, but it could have something to do with my last name?

Don't you just love the candy corn? Since I couldn't make it to the Ozark, MO craft festival, my dear friend Jeanna brought a little of it to me. Thanks girl! It's too cute!

The orange truck on the box is reminiscent of the old orange farm truck we had. I can remember sitting on the floorboard of it when Dad would drop me off at school. I was SO embarrassed! My how times have changed... I love that old farm truck so much that it's sitting at my house now!

I love my garden window.  I always wanted one at my old house but for various reasons, I never had one.  When we were looking to buy this house, the garden window was the first selling point for me.  My husband said my eyes lit up and I had a huge smile when I saw that window.  Yeah, I pretty much LOVE it!

Homespun... it's just so cozy! The small brown jars came from my Grandma Smith's house in Princeville, IL. I loved going to visit her. How precious it is for me to see these jars every single day as I look out my window and think back on the wonderful memories I have of Grandma.

"Blessings"... abundant in my life!  The sweet soul that we bought our house from, left me a handmade bowl that she made.  She was amazing with pottery.  I feel like she has entrusted me to take care of her home that her husband built from the ground up.  Special folks, Gerald and Jan Rider are. 

Ah, Ryan's baby plate and cup.  On one of the first shopping trips that Ryan, my mom and I journeyed on back in the Fall of 95, I knew I had to have this set to pass on to him one of these days.  It's such a sweet set and I wish I had one for each child.  My most simple, but favorite way to decorate... tie a ribbon or homespun around a treasure and add a pick.

My newest acquisition from my latest antiquing excursion with my dear friend, Jeanna-- the beautiful turquoise jar.

I am grateful for the many wonderful memories that my treasures provide.  Oh, how I delight in these small pleasures!

Craft Room Remodel

Yikes!  No wonder I couldn't find anything or get anything accomplished!  Yes, it was this bad!  Actually worse than this... I had already cleaned off the shelf, walls and everything out from underneath the table before I took this picture.  It was a grotesque mess!

I have the best help in the world!  Not only does he do a great job for a 4 year old, but he's cheap... only requiring goldfish for pay.  You can't beat that!  I let Robbie help on the first coat.  It kept him busy and after the second coat had dried, you couldn't even tell he had been there.  He was SO excited about being a big help to me.  I love making my kids feel like they are accomplishing great things. 

YAH!  It is finished!  Well... this wall anyway.  I have a similar cabinet to go beside this one.  I can't wait to fill them with all my goodies in an organized and labeled fashion! =]

Another wall.  When was the last time you pulled your washer and dryer out from the wall?  Has it been more than three years?  If so, I encourage you to take a look at what you have back there.  Boy, oh, boy!  EEEKKK!!  It was quite interesting and I'll just leave it at that.

Ahhh... this is more like it!  Clean.  I love clean!

It's almost hard to tell in the pictures, but the new color is quite a bit darker than the original.  I'm loving it already!  It's been fun watching it transform into a peaceful, cozy little place that will be my haven.  I am grateful for a little place in my home that I can call my own.  I already love my little craft corner... even though I have to share with the laundry...

Woo Hoo!!!

I am so excited... and I just can't hide it.. I'm about to lose control... and I think I like it...

Ok, so I'm really not 'Pointer Sisters' excited, but I am really excited!  We just paid off loan #3 on Friday!!  Yee Haw!!  Now we are down to two loans left to tackle.  Between the three loans, we were looking at $9,000 at the beginning of spring.  Since that time, we have dropped what we owe to $6,637.07!  That's still a lot left to pay, but we have come so far!  I sure don't miss the days of Rich's "sugar momma" at the AA Credit Union.  He would walk in, visit with her and come out with $$ all the time.  Bless Carolyn's little heart.  It would be nothing for us to have 10+ loans at a time!  All I have to say about that is... Thank You Lord for Dave Ramsey!!  It feels so good to realize that being DEBT-FREE is obtainable for us!

I am grateful for the financial highs and lows that Rich and I have experienced the past 13.5 years.  Through these experiences, we have learned so much.

Wholly surrendered

... stress of the finances

... pressure of managing my time wisely

... worries of the wifely things I say and do

... weariness from the job

... wonders of the wisdom I administer to my kids

Only in You, King Jesus, am I complete in these things.  How I desire to be wholly surrendered to You in my whole being.

My adventure with my little guy

What beautiful autumn days we are enjoying!  For some odd reason, I picked this time of year to pull every single thing out of my craft/laundry room, paint the room, and organize every single thing before it goes back into the room.  Why now?  This is the busiest time of the year for me with birthdays, Halloween, Drum Day.  Even work is crazier.

Even with all the craziness, I was not about to let a gorgeous autumn day pass me by.  God blessed us with the beauty of His creation for a reason-- for us to get out there and enjoy it!

So Robbie and I get outside and enjoy the sunshine!

As we take off down our little country road...

...we marvel at the stately Oaks...

...as we stop off at the bridge to throw leaves into the water.

Then we head on down the road on our delightful walk.

Swinging on the grapevine is a must on our country road.

Ah yes, Buzz Lightyear and Alien accompanied us on our walk.  Here they are taking a rest as we swing on the grapevines.

It has been three wonderful, blessed years that we have lived on 276th East Avenue.  We adore our little country road so much!

Oh, what treasures await us on our journey down the pathway by the creek.

Robbie with his treasures.  He picked out a leaf for Daddy, Momma, Ryan, Amariah and one for him.  He had some acorns and other goodies but he couldn't carry them all.  Unselfishly, he left them behind so everyone in his family could have a leaf.

Coming from our old house that we lived in for 11 years with NO trees, you can only imagine how much I am loving being surrounded by these massive Oaks!

Ok, ok, ok... enough already.  Have I told you how much I enjoy my Oaks?  =]  As much as I don't want to, it's time to get back to the chore at hand.  I'm thrilled God gave me a day to get outside to enjoy Him and my son.

I am grateful for the beauty of the land that God so graciously allows us to see.

Much joy, much frustration

I really am not one to brag.  I have despised braggarts for as long as I can remember.  Even as I child, I never bragged.  It just didn't seem right.  I felt so smug when I would do it.  That's what I love about my little blog.  It is my 'safe sanctuary' away from the world.  I can cry all I want, laugh all I want, be outraged and irritated all I want, or even brag all I want.  So that is what I am going to do!

I am filled with much joy and pride from Amariah's Parent/Teacher conference.  We've always gotten remarkable reports about her ever since her very first year of school.  She is a bright young lady and I am so very proud of her.  We have never pushed for her to be a straight A student.  She has put that pressure on herself.  Sometimes, she puts too much pressure on herself!  We have always taught her to love God first, her family second and her friends next.  We have embedded in her the importance of an education.  She knows that school is to be more important than sports, friends, and yes... even boyfriends!  All the years of experience with P/T conferences had not prepared me for what I was about to hear from her current 5th grade teacher.  When I walked in, he immediately told me how much he has enjoyed having Amariah in his class.  He said she was doing great, no problems.  Yes, I know.. (I can brag here) I hear that every year.  He told me that I wouldn't believe what he was about to say.  He went on to explain to me about the GATES test that is taken every Spring and Fall.  It is reading, comprehension and vocab.  She received a near perfect score!  She tested at above high school level!!  I was shocked and so was he!  He said he couldn't believe it!  So for the rest of the conference my mind was swirling, trying to comprehend how smart my little girl was and trying to pay attention as well.  It was so hard.  I was basking in the gloating I was hearing about my girl.  He then went on to tell me how she is so smart, but she doesn't brag about it.  I emphasized that I have worked hard on instilling humbleness to my kids.  Still in shock over her test scores, he shocked me even more by illustrating how very much my daughter was like his own wife.  His wife is a doctor, who is very smart, beautiful and has a lovable personality.  He proceeded with his envision of Amariah going very far in life and doing great things because she is smart, pretty, outgoing, and has a wonderful personality.  Okay... Wow... I'm speechless... and so very proud!  I can honestly say I've never had anyone brag on my own child so much. 

Thank you Mr. Dillbeck for such kind words about my girl.  She is special and she knows that because I tell her all the time that she is.  She will tell you that she is special because God made her, God loves her and God will always be with her.  I am proud of how well she is doing by the world's standards, but nothing makes me more proud than her knowing Jesus as her Lord and Savior!

Whew!

Now about my frustration... Ryan.  Can we go to the opposite end of the spectrum??  What on earth is going on?!  We go from a child with straight A's to a child with one failing grade and four grades that are within points of being failing grades.  What?!

  Extremely heavy sigh here

What have we done wrong?  Where have we failed him?  We are honestly at a loss of what to do with him and for him.  We have struggled with him from all the way down to first grade.. all the way up to the now current 8th grade.  Every single year, every single teacher, every single word the same.  He's immature, he doesn't care, he's too laid back, and believe it or not, he's very smart.  I know this.  I've heard this many times over.  He can do the work, it just seems to get lost somewhere between the desk (or his homework folder) to the teacher.  This is a sampling of his grades:  100, 100, 0, 97, 0, 0, 88, 100, 0, 0, 0.  There is no motivation unless he finds it on his own.  Will we ever survive his school years?  Will we make it through high school?  Will he graduate??  As much as I hate to say it, I find myself pondering these things over and over again.  What can we do?  What can I do?  We've punished, bragged, grounded, bribed, spanked, paid money.  What is left to do?  I'm exhausted.  Have I given up?  Not at this moment.  Truth be told, in the past I have and I told him so.

As frustrated as I get with him, I will never give up on him.  He is still my boy.  My oldest child.  I've been praying for him before he was even born.  I trust God with all my heart.  How else could I ever get through this?  I know there is a lesson somewhere in all this mess.  I'm thankful God is in control of the situation because if He wasn't it would be utter chaos!  As frustrated as I get about Ryan's carefree (or should I say care less) attitude towards school, I am thankful that he too, knows how very special he is.  He knows God made him special, God loves him and God will always be with him.

I'm thankful for Ryan and Amariah (and Robbie, too!).   More so, I'm grateful for my loving God who gives me the strength, peace and wisdom to face each new situation that arises with each child.  I don't even want to think what my life would be like without Him!

What to do?

Robbie wakes up and very slowly makes his way down the hall.  I hear him head downstairs.  I quietly call his name.  He comes to me and crawls up on my lap.  He laughs as I sit and hold him, smothering him with hugs and kisses.  In his sweet little morning voice (which is so very much different from his full awake boisterous voice) he says to me "How'd you get here?".  Kids are so cute when they are trying to get their meaning across and they do their very best.  I told him I was off work today and I get to spend the day with him!  In his sweet and sleepy little voice, he enthusiastically draws out "Alright!".  I smile so big at him, yet I want to cry inside!

I am torn.  I so want to be a true stay-at-home mom.  No more home based businesses to take away precious hours from my kids that I will never get back.  No more part-time work where I have to leave my little guy at home with a Daddy that needs to sleep during the day.  No more having to say "No, I'm sorry, I can't be there because I have to work".  It thrills Amariah SO much when I can be at school to help out.  It's quite humorous actually.  She doesn't want me to be around, yet she wants me there.  I guess that's better than the way some parents get treated by their kids who don't even care if their parents are there or not.

I am not good at making decisions.  World's worst, actually.  Rich and I have had a few spats over that very topic.  What is so wrong with being indecisive??

In the past year or so, I have finally said no to church committees.  My heart's passion is for youth and for women.  While I enjoyed the Student Team and the Women's Activity Team immensely, I knew it was time to leave.  Being a part of the planning, scheduling, implementing, and achieving was a joy for me.  But making all the meetings and being available at all times was not convenient for me. 

I think I am ready.  I think I am about ready.  I'm really not sure.  My very short-term goal is to see about finally quitting work after inventory at the end of January.  If not then, I will quit by summertime.  And if not then, most definitely by the time school starts next year.  I am having a hard time knowing what to do.  I know where my answer lies.  I know the only way I will ever find peace about it is by seeking God through prayer and searching God's Word.  A couple of years ago, I did that very thing.  I spent much time pouring over God's Word and seeking His will for this very subject of my life.  I never received the peace I was looking for.  I knew it wasn't time.  So after Christmas I will start searching again.  To say I have it made is an understatement.  Being with the company for 18 years (along with the hard work I give them), affords me the luxury of an extremely flexible schedule that I know will be impossible to match anywhere else.  When I go, I have to make sure it is the right thing to do.  There will be no going back.

Although I don't like it very much, I am grateful for the choices I do have for there are so many people out there begging for work.  In the end, it all comes back to this:  Can anything compete against my little guy being ecstatic about getting to spend the day with me??

A fun-filled weekend of friends

I had a most enjoyable weekend spent with many friends.  How can I ever think I am not blessed?  Friday/night and Saturday were spent with my friends that share the same love of watching our children cheerlead and play football.  There is so much joy in watching their little faces light up with such awe-inspiring school spirit.  When Amariah does that "herkie" just right, I can't help but smile and feel proud inside because I can tell by her beaming smile, that she too is proud.  What a blessing to see so many parents take time off from their mostly over-loaded schedules to come out and partake of their child's day.

Saturday evening and Sunday were spent with special friends, both old and new.  I really can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable night surrounded by so many great friends!  (Except for the nights that the girls get away with no men or kids... but that doesn't happen often enough!).  It is so nice to be able to be serious one minute, laugh your head off the next minute.  It is especially nice when you can poke fun of each other and everyone still has a great time without being offended.  What a gorgeous night God blessed us with!  I enjoyed walking to each other's homes in the beautiful, serene night air.  I could have stayed by the fire all night long.  I almost did... I almost fell asleep in my chair.  I so love the outdoors!  Sunday was a great day to be serving God, our community and each other.  The weather was wonderful, the people were cheerful, and the mood was gratifying!  There really is nothing more satisfying than when a group can come together in unity and serve.  I adore our church family!

I am so very grateful for all the wonderful friends, sisters and brothers that God has placed in my life, at this very season in my life!

Routine, Organization, Efficiency

It's so nice to be back!  I love routine and organization. I love efficiency in every form of the word!  As mundane as it can be, I feel like I'm not getting anything accomplished if there is not some sense of order around me.  I'm not a control freak at all.  I don't have to be in control of my day or any tidbit of my day, BUT I just can't seem to focus if I'm unorganized or inefficient.  To have Ryan back in school and Rich back to work; I feel, is a huge accomplishment!

  Ah, how I've missed our family devotion time.  It felt so good to get it going again.  I hate to say it, but it went bye-bye for awhile with the onslaught of school starting and hospital ordeals.  I so wish I wouldn't let life get in the way of our family devotions.  What are my kids learning from that?  That when life gets busy or hectic, take a break from God's word?!  That's when we need to be in it as a family every single day!  I so want my kids to be grounded in His word.  I want them to seek it and not friends when they are having a bad day.

It was so nice to have Rich home every single night for those 5 weeks.  After we put the kids to bed, we would sit on the couch together and watch the diy network... every single night until midnight or later.  It was relaxing.  We would dream about our house and our yard.  I will hold out for those flagstone pavers on top of all the concrete in our back yard.  Yes,  I know they are expensive, but I love the old-time feel and look of them.  We discussed projects we wanted to tackle and list their importance.  We would go to bed at the same time.  I would lay there beside him and think about how much I cherish that time with him and how much I loved just having him there beside me even though he was snoring.  It's been a long nine months that he has been on midnights.  Only nine months??  Are you kidding me??  It seems more like nine years!  I'm glad he gets to see the kids after school and spend the whole evening with them.  He gets to be at all the games and even gets to coach now-- since he can make the practices.  But oh, how I miss having him home at bedtime!  I have found myself in a routine that I'm not too fond of!  I seem to stay awake as long as possible every night that he is working so I will just go to bed and crash.  I have such a hard time falling asleep without him beside me.  I tried putting Robbie in bed with me at night, but it's just not the same.  I need my husband beside me, where he should be.  Speaking of... why am I still awake at 12:45 AM when I need to wake up at 6:30 AM?  I am grateful for a husband that I enjoy being with.

Strength

It's amazing how I find strength when I don't think I have anything left!  God is so good to me.  I really don't understand why He gives of Himself so much when I don't even deserve it!

It's funny (in a weird way, not haha! funny) how it's easier to see a husband in a hospital bed than it is to see your own child.  Having experienced both in these past 5 weeks, I didn't realize how helpless I felt until I saw Ryan lying in his bed with his hospital gown on awaiting surgery.  I didn't cry though.  How could I?  He kept cracking joke after joke.  I'm glad he was so calm, it kept me calm.  As I was sitting in the waiting room, I was pondering many things.  Like, why was I there by myself?  Why wasn't Rich there waiting with me?  We have been blessed beyond what we could ever dream to have so many friends and family offering to help in every way throughout our hospital ordeals.  Why had I not thought about getting the kids taken care of that morning so he could have been there with us?  At that very minute that I was thinking on these things-- it's like God was listening to me and sent a friend, Anthony, to sit with me.  Thank you God for those little things that are a big deal to me!  Well, I survived the surgery.  I guess I should say "we" survived.  Ryan was a trooper.  Except for the times he was asking for pain medication, he was still cracking us up.  We made it home and I slept for 4 hours!  Guess I was a little tired.  =]

I'm grateful for my relationship with my loving Father that allows me to get through anything that He places before me!

My sister Pam

Even though my sister Pam is 14 years older than me, we share such a special connection that I don't have with my other siblings.  I don't remember her being around the house when I was growing up, but they tell me she used to babysit me while our mom worked.  Maybe that's why we get along so well.  I love all the time that I get to spend with her.  We both share a love of our Lord, our husbands, our families, our friends and all the simple pleasures in our lives that make us smile.

She is my all-time favorite garage sale-ing, flea marketing and antiquing person!  We both love the hunt and we both get so excited when we find that little something special that warms our heart!  When others are with us, they just stare at us as we bubble over with excitement.  It's so funny because I can walk around the corner, see what she has and automatically be jealous that I didn't find it first and happy for her to find something that she delights in.  She is the same way with me.  When others are with us, they don't understand.. they just know that's the way Pam and I are.  They poke fun of us; it is nice to give them enjoyment.  Sometimes when she is not with me, I am saddened that she is not there to share my joy.  But that's okay, as soon as I get home-- I call her so she can share my excitement over the phone.  We don't let miles come between us!  =]

Pam is a wealth of knowledge.  Since my Grandma Goins has passed away and I can't call her with all my questions, my sister Pam is the next best thing.  I love how she knows all about my flowers, plants, trees and what I need to do.  She gives wonderful advice and even tells me what I am doing wrong.

I admire Pam so very much.  She has faced much hardship in her married life, especially in the later years.  When most women would have bailed out and left their man, she stood by hers.  She believed when no one around her would believe.  She trusted God and held onto the belief that He was in control and would bring her safely through her storms.  So much faith, so much faith.  In my life, she is the best model of a Proverbs 31 woman that I have.

I am grateful for a loving sister who has also been a positive and wonderful role model for me.  We share a special sisterhood bond and I wouldn't have it any other way!  I love you, Pam!

What a week I have ahead of me

I'm normally not one to complain about a busy week, but starting it out being sick is surely not helping it any!  Today started out early with waking at 6:20 AM.  Ryan to school at 7:15 AM.  Back home to get Amariah and get her to school at 8:00 AM.  Worked 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Pick kids up from school, home at 3:30 PM.  Thank you Lord for no homework today!  Amariah to cheer practice at 6:00 PM.  Tracy Morgan's jewelry party at 6:30 PM.  Back to pick up Amariah from practice at 7:30 PM.  Home!  Dinner, baths, bed.

Wednesday starts out the same.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  What is normally my day off, I will be working.  Make that working all week because we have 3 people on vacation and my boss asked if I could work more days this week.  Now I'm wondering why I am so nice. ;)  Get home at 3:30 PM.  Hopefully no homework again.  Avon is in-- sort, sack up and get ready to deliver.  Dinner.  Church.  Yah!  I love the re-charge in the middle of the week.  Home!  Baths, bed.

Thursday starts out the same again.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Get home at 3:30 PM.  Amariah to cheer practice at 6:00 PM.  Ryan football game in Catoosa at 6:00 PM.  Yah!  Thank you Lord for a home game this week!  Home! Dinner, baths, bed.

Friday, here we go again.  Ryan 7:15 AM.  Amariah 8:00 AM.  Work 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  Get home at 3:30 PM.  My oldest sister, Pam, from Missouri will be here!  Ahh, I get to relax and enjoy her company!

Saturday.  Pam and I to Black Buggy Days in Chouteau.  We so admire the Amish.  I really want to relax and enjoy that day... but somewhere in there I have to fit Amariah's cheerleading at the football game in Jenks at 4:30 PM and Rich's band playing a show in Tulsa that evening.

Whew!!  I'm already wore out and the week is just beginning.  Can't I just skip it all and let it be Friday afternoon already??  I know... I know... slow down and enjoy these years.  I hear that on a constant basis.  I'm trying!

Oops!! I'm going to be late!  God, help me to keep my focus on You amongst all the activities of this week.  Help me to influence my children to do the same.  I am grateful for my health that I am able to get all this accomplished.  I know I will look back on this week and say "What were you worried about?  That wasn't so bad after all!" =]


Update:  Tuesday, 10:35 PM.  Well, I've already been successful in failing this evening.  I managed to yell at two kids (I didn't scream at them though, does that count?) and the other one went to bed mad at me.  With Amariah's bedtime at 8:30 PM, she finally made it to bed by 9:15 PM, trying to talk to me while I was cooking dinner, doing dishes and trying to keep Robbie quiet.  I wouldn't answer her right away and she got a little perturbed, and marched off to bed with me yelling "I love you" over my shoulder.  Got Ryan sat down for dinner at 9:45 PM, although he has a bedtime of 9:00 PM.  Then it was time to get Robbie settled in his bed.  He was a little wound up so it took a couple of spankings, and yes I'm sorry to say, I did yell at him.  After I regained composure, I took him in my arms and told him how sorry I was, but how important it was for him to obey.  I kissed him goodnight, told him I loved him.  Then it was finally time to tell Ryan how sorry I was for yelling at him.  I had too many things I was trying to take care of myself.  It's a bad excuse, but all I had to offer him.  After accepting his apology, I put him to bed 1 hr. and 5 min. after his bedtime.  Now, here I am.  Sitting here eating my dinner at almost 11:00 PM.  Do you ever have one of these days??  What is wrong with me??  I'm sorry for failing tonight God.  I am so grateful that your tender mercies are new every single day!  The only thing left to do before I go to bed is to go to Amariah's bedside and tell her how I love her and how sorry I am for not having time to listen to her.  No, she won't hear me, but at least I'll be able to sleep.  Then in the morning, I will tell her once again so she will know.

In All I Do...

As the praise and worship song goes... "In all I do, I honor you".  Those words are so easily spoken, but how true can I be when I really mouth those words.  Honestly-- there are some days, I really feel like I can't sing that part of the song.  I want to think that I honor Him in ALL I do, but alas... that would be a lie.  I so wish I could say that without true conviction.  I desire that to be my legacy, especially where my children are concerned.  I pray that I can be the Christian influence to them that they need me to be.  I have great responsibility to teach them on a constant basis.  I don't have to look very hard to see an everyday occurrence where there could be a great learning experience for them.  Sometimes I'm so caught up in what I'm doing or how I'm feeling that I miss out on those opportunities.  I'm sorry God!  Thank you, God, for your mercy that withholds from me what I truly deserve and for your grace that gives to me what I don't deserve!  I am grateful for Your mercy and grace.

I also desire that to be my legacy where my friends are concerned.  On a lighter note, I so enjoyed my girlfriends last night.  It is amazing that you can get a group of women together that all have basically the same beliefs, but many different opinions and views... and still get along! =]  I enjoy them all.  I wish I had the time to sit down with each and every one of them separately and have a good friend heart to heart talk about what is going on in our lives.  We so need each other and we can learn so much from each other!  I am grateful for the women that God has placed in my life that loves the Lord first, their husband second and their family next.  I'm glad that for most of us... friends rank right up there after family.

Labor Day

It is okay to borrow something you really like from someone else's blog, right?  Well, I'm going to do it anyway.  This is a little poem from the Gooseberry Patch blog.  It's cute.  Oh, and I think you should go and join their blog.  They just started it a few weeks ago and they already have one of their yummy recipes on there! =]  They will also be having craft ideas and decorating tips.

Yay for Labor Day!

Top 10 Things We Love about Labor Day

Big pitchers of homemade lemonade

with raspberries and mint

Hometown parades complete

with horses & marching bands

Splashing around at the pool

for the last day of the season

Potato salad, corn on the cob

& fresh-picked tomatoes

Sun-warmed grass and cool shade

before the leaves fall

Messy ice-creamed faces

smiling in the sunshine

Cookout with family & friends

in the backyard

Tall sunflowers & hollyhocks

nodding in the breeze

Toasting marshmallows & squishing

'em into yummy s'mores

Watching fireflies, dreaming of

Fall, right around the corner

I am grateful for a holiday weekend to spend with my family.

A New Beginning

There is a hint of Fall in the air and inside my home, but today we are enjoying one of the last days of Summer 09. Although it was an uneventful summer for us, it was an enjoyable one! Now it's time to look ahead to what the Fall season will be bringing our way... football and cheerleading. Ryan and Amariah are proud to be a part of a team and squad that both work towards unity within the group. An awesome way for me to teach them how important it is to live a Christian life that works toward unity within the church so that collectively, souls can be won for the Kingdom of God!

The Berry family made time for each other and our Lord this summer. Sometimes it seems like a hassle to get us all connected and in one place but when we do, we share a blessing. We are currently in the book of John with our family devotions. It's a good book to be in. I am grateful for the answers my children have when we ask them questions about what we've read. I usually expect the Sunday School answer "Jesus" but they blow me away with their insight and understanding of His Word! I am grateful for the children God has entrusted to me.

catoosa caboose