Have you ever wondered what Jon’s uvula looks like?

Our good friend Jon returned home yesterday after 3 weeks of out-of-town training for his job. Naturally we all missed him and his bubbly personality (None more than his wife and 2 boys no doubt!). So, at lunch after church this morning it was no surprise that Jon’s humor found its way to the table.
We found out what an extended absence from family and friends, followed by an excessively long drive and very little sleep in a two day span will do to a person!

Maybe we shouldn't have let him play with the camera!!!!!!

I Love You, Cynthia!

This is me at the young age of 17 with my daughter, Cynthia. Isn't she beautiful!

It's funny, looking back I remember wondering why people always thought she was my sister or I was the babysitter. I KNEW how grown-up I was and I didn't understand why everyone else couldn't see that! MY HOW TIME CHANGES THINGS!

The beautiful 8 month old has grown into a wonderful young lady. I can't believe she is 14 already! She starts highschool next year! And I am the mother-trying my best to lead her to make better choices then I did. We have a great relationship, full of open conversations about anything and everything. She tries very hard to lead a Christ-centered life. She is all a mother could ask for. . .She makes me proud to call her my daughter.

G I A N T S

I am totally stressed out!
This is the last week of classes and I had a test today and I have another one tomorrow. Then we start finals! I still have a paper to write for Ethics too!
That's just the beginning. . .
The nice weather has the kids itching to get out and do "something". They think we have to be on the go constantly! The house is a mess. The dog is lonely. And my cupboards are down to canned beans and spaghetti sauce!
I am tired. I am tired of homework and studying. I am tired of dirty laundry. I am tired of dealing with worn-out kids and hurt feelings. I am tired of rumors, deceit and backstabbing. I am tired of adults who act like children and children who think they are adults. I AM TIRED!
It's times like this that make me think of Goliath. It seems there is always some "giant" in my life standing in front of me, taunting me. It's times like this that I long to be more like David. You know what impresses me the most about David? It's not that he had the guts to take on a giant. It's not that he took on this giant with a simple sling. It's not even that he defeated the giant with a single stone. What I am most impressed with is his confidence and determination. David didn't sit and worry about the giant he was to face. He didn't wait for Goliath to chase him down. David faced Goliath head on. David knew he had God on his side and he didn't doubt or question. Instead of hiding or waiting and hoping God would spare him the battle he stood strong and faced the giant. "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." (1 Samuel 17:48).
So when I open my eyes in the morning and see my giant staring me down, I think about David. If I focus on my Goliath things seem overwhelming and impossible, but I know that if I keep my focus on God as David did it will be the giants who fall.

Karaoke 2007

My kids did something today that they have never done before. . . They sang karaoke (in front of people)! While they didn’t win anything, I am so proud of all 4 of them for getting up there and doing it. They did an excellent job! I wish I would have taken the video camera!

Garrett was the deep "voice" in Rama Lama Ding Dong

The Burrito Supremes (Cynthia Kimberly and their friend Payton with back-up by Lindsay and her friend Coco) sang Stop in the Name of Love

Trenton, our friend's son, gave Johnny Cash a run for his money with Get a Rhythm

Through the Clouds

I love the way the sun peaks through the clouds. It always reminds me of the greatness of our God. Sometimes we lose sight of Him because of the clouds of our life and we are tempted to think He has left us. But sure enough, there He is, in the midst of our "cloudy" days, shining down on us with love and understanding.

How great is our God!

The Many Faces of Lindsay Part II

The Many Faces of Lindsay

Lindsay loves to take pictures, especially of herself! Sometimes I wonder what is going through her mind. . .

Thank You !

Last Friday I wrote of some recent struggles. I used my blog to express my feelings without much restraint. I posted it and left for school feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That didn’t last long though. As my day went on I began to think about some of the things I had said. I started to wonder if my choice to share such intimate feelings was wise. It wasn’t long before I was wondering what others would think of me.
I debated deleting the post to avoid the scrutiny of those who might read it. My insides filled with dread as I imagined their possible reactions. I expected judgments and whispers. I expected to be criticized and condemned. I don’t know why. I guess because that is so often the reaction. (I know you know what I mean.)
WELL, I have to admit, I didn’t give my friends nearly enough credit. As God so graciously reminded me; I have wonderful, compassionate and understanding friends. Instead of giving some half-hearted advice of “hang in there” or “don’t let it get you down” they responded with words of support and reassurance and even shared some personal struggles of their own. That is what friendship is all about, when one is weak the others share the burden, when one is sinking the others hold their head above the water so they don’t drown, and when one expresses their innermost feelings the others withhold judgment and just encourage. It feels so good to know that I have that kind of friends. I am grateful to God for putting them in my life and thankful to them for putting up with me.


(Just a side note)- - - Although I am not prepared to share the exact circumstances that lead to my emotional outburst, I do want to clarify one thing: it is not my marriage. When I reread the post, it occurred to me that it might be taken to be a marital issue; it is not.

Reminder from God

Sometimes we need a little reminder from God. Especially me. Sometimes I forget that people will always let us down; people are fallible, imperfect and weak. People are selfish, egotistical and proud. We all have these characteristics to some degree or another; it's part of being human. But it's easy to forget. Especially when you feel you have been wronged. It's easy to put too much trust and too much confidence in another person (or even yourself!) It's easy to get caught up in human beings doing worldly things and forget that God is in control.
When someone lies to you, God is in control. When someone manipulates you, God is in control. No matter what is going on in your life. . . GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Today I am disappointed (As I'm sure you can tell). Today I am discouraged. Today I am a child of God struggling to keep my focus on Him as the distractions of the world loom heavy.
I am tempted to point fingers and blame. I am tempted to confront with hostility. I am tempted. . .

So, as I sit with my Bible I turn to a familiar passage in Romans: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28.

I know that God is in control. I know that he is using every second of every day to build me into the person he wants me to be. That doesn't mean it's easy. Maybe I don't know what He is teaching me yet. Maybe I don't always understand His ways. But I do know that God is using it all for good.


If you have a minute or two, I could really use some extra prayers today.

Ain't it great to be CRAZY!

Sometimes you just have to let loose and act CRAZY!

So, I was looking through some old pictures for stuff to use in a scrapbook that Cynthia is making for her Grandma and I came across this picture from a few months ago. Obviously it will be awhile until Robby can let Lindsay fix his hair again, but I think she did a pretty good job here! Smile! Everyone acts a little CRAZY sometimes! It's not just you.