Life is GOOD! (click for photos)

Elli is 10 (*edited - missing Megan BIG TIME!!!)

we are so thankful

and Charli is looking forward to her very first Christmas!

So much to say, so little time! We are enjoying our lives as God reveals to us new lessons each day! This week has been good; very good. Enjoying days of homeschooling - studying China...first year we are not taking the whole month of December off! Still having fun.

Recently taking a step back, looking, in awe of Gods layout of my life. God is so faithful and so gracious to me! He finds new and creative (even comical) ways of reminding me that He loves me: people on the side of the road (ask if you're interested), mentoring, humbling me on stage, children with great wisdom, friends praying for me and asking for prayer, answering prayers...

I am so blessed! .......

Phil is amazing to me. I was completely infatuated with him from the first moment I laid eyes on him back in 1987. I have watched him transform into an even more attractive man as he travels through his life in search of Gods will. My love for him is so much bigger today. How does God do that?
Elli is a young lady after God's own heart! Her desire to serve the Lord is BIG. She learns to trust Him more each day and desires a real relationship with Him. She's my BRIGHT shining star - somehow she finds a way to daily remind me that life is good!
Riley - what a joy. He's fun, gross, sneaky, creative, spontaneous, caring, romantic...all the things a great leader should be! He makes me laugh and he enjoys doing it! He cares for others in a very deep way! I can't wait to see how God uses that great gift!
Charli girl...what can I say. She's amazing. Her smile draws me in everytime! She squints her eyes, flaunts her gums and squishes her nose. You can't help but feel honored as she shines her smile in your presence! I love morning time the best. God time, breakfast, morning chores (all the while El & Ri can't wait to get Charli up...they work extra fast so they can greet her little happy body when she wakes up.) What joy.

The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need the sun and the rain and the apple tree the Lord is good to me! - A song I sing often

North Carolina (click for photos)

Our trip to North Carolina was life altering! Realizing, even more, how blessed we are to have the Johnson's in our lives! We had an amazing time! Really Alicia captured so much of it in her blog so I'll let you review her notes! Enjoy the pictures and know that if you have one amazing friend in your life you are truly blessed! I am! Thanks Alicia for being you! Thanks to the whole family for giving up space, food, time, school, work, structure, sleep and so much more to spend time with the Hayes! We love you guys!

I also want to say that we are road travelers! We LOVE road trips! Ready for the next adventure honey?

Heading North

FUN WITH THE JOHNSON'S!




The kiddos & I are headed to Charlotte, NC...We're off to see our best friends! We love you guys and can't wait to hug each one of you!!! We are leaving at 5am...Phil will join us on Thursday. (We'll miss you baby! Bye for now Papa!)

See you soon Johnson's! Get ready, we're on our way!

Joyfully working

(click title for more pics)
Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A great work day last Saturday! We, Phil & I, decided once and for all that our work (which is really LIFE because it never ends) was to be enjoyed AS we work not just when we reached the end goal, which by the way never seems to last very long!. We also decided once and for all that we wanted to enjoy working along side our children. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) I often feel as though I'm rushing to get somewhere rarely just in the moment. I want to live more in the now. Enjoying each moment even when doing things that often seem monotonous (laundry, can I get an AMEN sister!) God has asked us to do all our work as though we are doing it unto Him (Colossians 3:23). I think that requires us to enjoy the process. So, we will be praying a lot about this because we can not do this on our own (John 15:5)!

5 day challenge

Mama has to get this weight off! I have resorted to wearing the same 2 things over and over because I can not fit into my clothes yet (after baby) and I refuse to settle into a whole new size! SO...This week I am challenging myself to work off 400 calories each day (M-F). I will go to the gym so I can keep track! Wish me blessings this week! :-)
*EDITED: Monday - Yeah did it! 400 calories!

*EDITED: Tuesday - Yes! Started with Charli in a Mommy & Me class (I'm sure I burned at least 50 calories here!) - she LOVED it...Then finished with 350 calories burned on an elyptical! 2 down 3 to go! Having fun!

*EDITED: Wednesday - had a great 400 calorie burn at the gym with Phil (wow too many prepisitional phrases!). Thanks for joining me honey!!!

*EDITED: Thursday - Today was tough! My body hurts! I changed machines twice to do it but I did it! The 400 calorie burn burned today!

*EDITED: Friday - final day!!! 200 calorie burn today! looking forward to a couple days off from the gym. It was a great week but my body is in need of rest! So, I'll be back to it on Tuesday! Yeah!

The Love Dare

(click on title for link to Fireproof - a must see!)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

I LOVE being married to Phil. God has done so many unbelievable things in our union together but there was a time when things weren't so good! Just this morning my bible study was all about my relationship with my husband. The question that was asked toward the end of the chapter was, "how can you respect your husband today." When we were married, 15 years ago, we had a knowledge of God's word but not much of a heart for God and His truths. This movie, Fireproof, is an amazing picture of what marriage can be! When we live by the world's standards the picture is sad, lonely & extremely frustrating but when we make the choice to let God lead we find our lives, our marriages filled with joy and peace! There is so much more I could say but the one thing I need to say is GO SEE THE MOVIE with your honey! Pray before you go and ask God to do a mighty work in your relationship together! Phil and I plan to purchase the book "The Love Dare." I am looking forward to the fun it will bring to our marriage! I'm looking forward to getting to know Phil, once again, on a whole new level! Thank God today for your spouse and have fun "studying" each other! I love you Phil! (PIP)

Great Weekend

(click title to see more photos)

Our weekend started on Friday spending a day at an awesome park with sister and kids. The kids had such a great time together! Jofus is a lot of fun and Riley loves chasing him around as a velociraptor. Joseph hasn't quite figured out if he likes that or not. Riley's impression of a dinosaur is quite realistic and very scary! Elli is content just hanging out and singing her songs! She always has a song to sing! I love that about Elli! Charli & Jaggar are so silly! Their sounds are similar. Jaggar is so happy just to be held while Charli is ready to get down and play. It has been interesting watching the two personalities unfold! They're so cute! Home for bean & corn wraps with Pops, mmm so good! Beddy bye for kids and spa for parents! So tired. The rest of the weekend FLIEs by like this...Saturday: Joel's 6th birthday party, mom's day to clean!, to dinner with Gma & Gpa Olsen - excellent Margharita! Sunday: 8:30 church, home for a yummy breakfast, Phil & I to see FIREPROOF (more to come on this), Meet at Riley's football game - go Rustler's!, back to mom's for a bbq and dirty ice cream, and a cherry pie kids made - Happy Birthday Tim 33 - "You know Jesus died at 33" words of wisdom to Tim LOVE Phil :-), home, cleaned up, ready for bed...Where does the time go??? Monday, ready or NOT here we come!

My Boy Riley

I should mention that Riley will also be in the play of Esther. He wanted to be "curtain boy - the one who is behind the stage pulling the curtain." Hilarious! He's quite shy but working through that! There will be no curtain but they have asked him to do a little solo part on one of the songs - He sings great! He's not thrilled but I'm sure by May he'll have a whole new outlook! He's so much like little Shannon it's not funny! He jokes a lot but only very few people get to see that side of him! What a treasure he is! I love you buddy and I am so proud of you!

Esther

Esther was a person of faith, goodness, devotion and courage. She built upon these characteristics combining with them a sense of watchfulness. Esther was devoted to her cousin, Mordecai, and obedient to his teachings. Her grace and her beauty gave her favor amongst all that she came in contact with.

You can see why Elli desires to play the part of Esther in the play of "Esther" next May! She auditioned last week and she got the part! She is so excited! We have been in the word and praying about this all week. Not only that God might bless her with this part but more importantly that He would mold her and change her through this experience! She said to me this morning (before she found out) that she felt God had grown her though this time! Elli will be a great Esther! She fits the part! I love you brave girl!

Me want Food!

Good morning. Our morning has been filled with God's word and now we are ready to start our day! We are off to the grocery to purchase Charli's first real food experience! She is watching us very intently and has made it very clear to us that she is HUNGRY! So, we will try out the baby cereal! We'll see how she likes it! edited - she thought her oatmeal was very interesting but was unsure what to do with it! So she let it drip down her chin and into her lap...Silly girl. We'll try again soon!

I AM! yes He is!

Mightier than the thunders of the great waters,
Mightier than the breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.

Notice the number of points the market fell, 777…. The world will mark this up to coincidence. I believe it’s the unfolding of bible prophecy in our day. This nation has turned it’s back on God, I believe there is a warning from God himself in the events that took place today. Few will listen, fewer still will hear. Take heart Christ follower! I believe this is God's love to us! Him letting us know that even in the midst of what the world see's as devistation we still have hope in our God! It's as though He is saying to us, "777...don't worry! I'm in control of even this! I will never leave you and never forsake you!" Be encouraged! God is with us!

Mama's Super HERO (click for video)

This You Tube video is a silly expression of the reality of living with Diabetes type 1. We can relate to this video big time!!! So many sweet children as well as adults suffer with this lifestyle! Elli is my personal HERO! (if you're reading this sweetness - You are my "SUPER ELLI!"). I have no doubt that she has and will allow God to use this tough daily struggle to prepare her for a great work as she continues to yeild her life to God's perfect and pleasing will! Lord, protect Elli from any harm, grow her in Your strength and give her courage to face each new day with the steadfast knowledge that YOU are good! repeated from the video "We will overcome in time!" Thank you Lord!

Why do we expect God to show up when we ask Him not to come? Wake up America!

IN GOD WE TRUST!




Just felt like that needed to be said today!

Cafe Ole! YUMMY!!!

What a fun day! We began the day, Phil & I, by sitting in the spa sipping our morning cup of starbucks. The spa was warm and the air was cool. We're beginning to feel the change in weather here and loving every bit of it. We gathered the kids and went to the gym - kids took a class, Phil swam and I did the elliptical. We enjoyed lunch at Moe's, football at the park then on to our second cup of starbucks! Saturday isn't quite right without a second cup! Ok Jeff & Alicia, we're really hoping this NO COFFEE thing is a phase! We will support you in secret hopes of bringing you back to the DARK SIDE!!! "Use the force Phil, use the force!" Anyway, we ended back at home - Phil did the yard, I went to the grocery store - came home and made/ate a delicious dinner! Kiddos to beddy bye and ended our day where we began it! In the spa! Off to bed, tomorrow we start all over again! :-)

Charli Girl

So much to say about my Charli! She's an independent spirit and has been since her days in the womb! We are enjoying the process of learning how to be a family of 5. So many changes so little time but we have committed to enjoying the journey each step of the way! I love you Charli Girl!

Sisters in Naples, Fl

(click on title for more photos) What an amazing time we had! Both Shawn & I have 4 month old babies. This was the first overnight without them. We have great faith in our loving husbands and they did a wonderful job taking care of the families in our absence! Shawn & I spent time on the beach in Naples at the Ritz Carlton for two nights. We searched for shells, floated in the water (fatty :-)), drank $15 drinks on the beach, enjoyed yummy foods (chocolate suffle), exhilorating bike rides and an overdue day at the spa - buggy mineral pool, waterfall whirlpool, steamroom - did we ever see any steam?, great massages (well, mine was) and facials which revealed to us that Shawn has thick skin and I have thin skin! Wow, didn't know we were going to get a psychological reading! Anyways, all in all it was an awesome get away! We've decided twice a year would be appropriate! A special thanks to Joe for for giving up his 2 free nights at the Ritz! I've never been treated so kindly by doormen :-)!

Family Introductions

Arg matey! From left to right we have:
Charli girl 4 months, Elli sweetie 9, & Wild Riley 6. What a joy they each bring to my life.







My guy! Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day & night." That's Phil! I love him! My hubby of 15 years!

For Starters

Beautifully Broken: God's truths revealed in me through those moments of brokenness. When God restores our brokenness He puts in its place something beautiful. Psalm34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I'm not claiming to have had a life filled with brokenheartedness, certainly not; just willing to admit that there are days when I can relate to a clove of garlic being crushed through a mincer. Sounds painful yet after being pressed through those teeny tiny little holes the clove of garlic is now stronger and fully ready to be used for its purpose. To add great flavor! James 1:2 Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.