Friday, November 1, 2013

Bump, Set, Spike, Ace!


What does a mama do when her daughters join the volleyball team?  She learns very quickly what the game is about so she can cheer correctly at her girls games.  I realized I knew nothing about volleyball....I am still learning.  

Have I told you my daughters played on the same team...do you realize how much I loved that!!!  I loved it for soooooo many reasons.  

She was really able to get serving down rather quickly.  I am so proud of her!
Both of my girls have such great attitudes when they play.  When the make mistakes they learn and work harder.  

Coach Bob poured so much into them and really gave them some great chances to grow as athletes and team players.
Look at that girl serve!  That is my daughter...Whoo HOO!
Go BLUE & WHITE!

Daddy loved cheering them on...shorty just loved the concessions!!! Ah hahahahahaha!
Can I tell you how much I love this!  So much!
Seeing my girls work as a team helps me...
GET JOY!

Lord of the Kings Kids Camp 2013

I was looking over this years photos and realized that I didn't post about kids camp this year!  I couldn't believe it since it was one of my favorite highlights of the summer.  Here are some beautiful pictures taken by Captured Photography
My family loves camp!

My whole family was able to be a part of camp this year.  Here is the staff's kids who were able to come but to young to be campers.  They had such a great time!   


Of course camp is not complete unless there is a lot of swimming going on... and boy was there a lot of great swimming time.  Isn't my little guy just too cute for words!!!!


I was able to work in the craft barn.  And if you haven't figured it out that is heaven on earth for me.
I loved, loved, loved it!
  
And of course what is camp without random weird group games!

The services were so amazing but I believe they were because we bathed them in prayer.  We prayed for the kids, workers, the speaker, kitchen staff, nursing staff....you name it we prayed over it.  

The speaker this year was so great and totally connected with the kids and the adults as well!  So Awesome.

I love our times just worshiping Jesus in that big old barn.  You can just feel His warm presence.  And seeing those kiddos just love Him back makes a heart so happy.  
Our hearts long for camp time.  There is just something that happens that is so special at camp.  
Camp is Joy!
GET JOY!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Photo Shoot 2013 - Family


This year's photo shoot happened at the beautiful Dow Gardens.  Oh my goodness I am in love with that place. I made sure to get some with me and the kids and John this time, thanks to my sweet hubby being there and my oldest.  Here are my favorites.  

“Your children are the greatest gift God will give to you, and their souls the heaviest responsibility He will place in your hands. Take time with them, teach them to have faith in God. Be a person in whom they can have faith. When you are old, nothing else you've done will have mattered as much.” 
― Lisa Wingate

8th Grade
Rejoice with your family in the 
beautiful land of Life!  -Albert Einstein


5th Grade
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.
~ Author Unknown


Introducing our newest 
Kindergarten Kid!
“Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.” 
― Mother Teresa


“I sustain myself with the love of family.”
– Maya Angelou

Love these guys so much!
Love him so much!
“We do not develop habits of genuine love automatically. We learn by watching effective role models – most specifically by observing how our parents express love for each other day in and day out.”
– Josh McDowell






My family brings me such joy everyday.  I am truly a blessed woman.  God you are so truly good to us!  My heart is full!
GET JOY!

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only – and that is to support the ultimate career. ”
– C.S. Lewis

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The League of Incredible Vegetables 5th Birthday Party!

Yup, He is finally is the big "5"!  What is happening?!  My kids are not little anymore.  

We had a small but fun birthday for him.  We did an Incredible Vegetable party.  He really loves the movie and the superhero Veggie Tales.  Thanks Big Idea for such a great cartoon.  Here are the pictures from his big day!

The very fun cake I made.  Fondant is like playdough for cakes.  Hahahaha!
We invited his good friend over for the afternoon!
Here he is opening his gifts.
He is just getting too big... I just love him.
We did birthday kind of things like party blowers, balloons, Incredible Vegetable cut outs on the walls (printed from my computer), watched the movie, capes for party favors, and played  with new presents. It was a good day.
They pretended to be superheros!
Don't you just love his Captain American pose?!
Happy 5th Birthday to my most favorite boy in the whole wide world!
You are too cute for words, to amazing to say, beyond wonderful...
you are God's beautiful gift to us.

GET JOY!

By the way love the Newsboys and Veggie Tales!

Pencils, Paper, and Backpacks!

We are back to school.  We decided this year that we would give Christian school a try and so far so good.  I also got a job working there as well.  I work as a preschool assistant and the elementary art teacher.  Our lives are now pretty busy.  I will have to say I do miss 8:30 wake ups and staying in pj's.  I am however loving not grading papers and not having the responsibility of my children's education.

Here are my beautiful kiddos on their first day back...
My junior higher

My tween!
My Kindergartener who wouldn't cooperate for a picture....ugh!
He is not mad about school just mad at me for taking pictures....this picture says it all.  
But honestly he likes school...for real!
See I told you!
Loving school and loving my kids!

GET JOY!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Saying Goodbye For Now!

Happy Birthday 5 year old.
I can't believe the day is finally here.  I have been sad about this day and excited all at the same time.  It's just weird the day has finally come.  I've been ignoring my feelings until now because I knew it was going to be hard and I was going to cry like a baby.  

Today, my sister is leaving for her 11 month/11 countries missions trip!  My heart is so sad because we just said our goodbyes.  Tears were flowing from everyone in the house.  We are excited but yet sad to not be with her.  We have never been apart like this... ever!!! If you would like to follow her journey check her out here http://jenmchutchion.theworldrace.org/


Serious game of hide and seek!


Last night we celebrated my sons birthday.  All of us played an epic game of hide and seek.  We sewed on last minute touches.  Helped her pack her bag.  Read stories  We just enjoyed being with her. 







We as a family are so proud of her.  We are amazed by her.   

So, this morning we anointed her and prayed over her.  
We prayed the prayer of a great missionary over her.  But my body trembled as I spoke these words.  It is what I have been praying over her the last two weeks.

"Breastplate"
-St. Patrick

St. Patrick's prayer, "Breastplate". I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Goodnight stories!
I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In the obedience of angels, In the service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In the predictions of prophets, In the preaching of apostles, In the faith of confessors, In the innocence of holy virgins, In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendor of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.
I summon today All these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul; Christ to shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Godspeed sweet sister....Godspeed!
Even through tears...

GET JOY!