InBLOGartation

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Almost like they were really there :-)


We chose to do AMERICA for school today...Fun day of Presidents, Maps & more...

Watching history unfold before our very eyes. What strides America has made.

Thank you Lord for FREEdom!

A quick thanks! (click for photos)

- PING -

Thank you for all your thoughts to our family about Ping! I was talking with the kids and I love how God can take such a sad situation and make something good from it! We all agree that we have much more of a heart for those who have lost animals. I admit I didn't really get it! I do now! Love you guys!

In Memory of Ping

I am so sad today! Phil woke me up early Friday morning. "I have sad news," he said. I jumped up out of bed with a loud whisper, "NO!" "Ping is dead."

I knew something wasn't quite right. All day Thursday I had a terrible feeling about Ping. Elli didn't think he was ok either. She mothered him all day. We have several ideas on what went wrong, could have been a natural thing we don't really know.

My favorite things: 1. Watching Riley grow in his ability to take care of an animal - EVERYDAY! He would clean out Ping's bedding, take him for a walk and place him gently (best he could) back in his house with food and water.

2. Realizing how sensitive Elli could be to an animal. She loved him so much she was willing to touch him; then pick him up; then hold him like a mommy would hold a baby. Amazing.

I am so proud of both Elli and Riley and how they took Ping on as their own.

I'll also have to say that I did not realize how attached I would become. Maybe that's one reason I never wanted to have any animals! However, I would not have chosen to miss out on Ping's life.

We are all SO sad! We had a funeral for him. Elli and Riley both drew a picture and wrote a message to him. We buried him and the papers in our back yard! We will never forget our precious Ping! He meant so much to us. We will miss you Ping Hayes.

DIABETES FUNDRAISING (click for last years walk photos)

REFER to my: "Mama's Super Hero" - Sept. 29th BLOG

If you'd like to financially support finding the cure for diabetes you can send a check to us or pay directly with your credit card! Thanks!

https://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.supportwalker&walkerid=87291106&sr=

Even better...plan to join us for the "walk to cure diabetes" and raise money on your own! March 21st
watch this video - cut and paste - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJbHggAfDKE

God's Grace (Click for video)

What an unbelievable day! Long story short...Our homeschool life is about to take a turn, a hard turn! I was quite convinced that my dear children would be going to traditional school after today! What a tough day! BUT...the Lord is GOOD to me! FULL on Charlotte Mason here we come!

AGAIN, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it (even in those moments I don't wanna!) His mercies are new every morning!

*video note - JUST SILLY! I remember doing this kind of stuff with my friends at that age! So fun! Enjoy & laugh!

A Great Reminder (Click here & be inspired)

Nick - what a light to this depressed world where so many rely on human wisdom.

God, please help me to live my life as an example to those who need to see Your light!

I will be adding pictures to my previous blog today so check those out.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in Him!!! Enjoy your day!

WELCOME 2009 (click for photos)

We have the same amount of time we've always had it just seems to fly quicker than normal! We are having so much fun. Phil has been off work since Dec. 24th. We've had some great time with our families, with the kids and even with each other! Christmas is once again a blur however. Next year some changes will be made!!!

There are so many things to share about our experience of the last month: Watching Charli grow so fast - 22 lbs., smiles all the time (especially for the camera - Alicia you will love it!), waving goodbye, saying "hi" (i think :-)), signing Mama, crawling...Purchased our Disney passes for the year! The kids have been putting their money in all year! So proud of them! Phil surprised us with an overnight at the Florida Mall for shopping! SO MUCH FUN! I think this will become a tradition! Thanks honey!Elli planned ahead and made several gifts for us. They are my favorite! (My 10 year old amazes me!) Riley is taking a time out for a month of asking "Can I..." He is working on his thinking of others instead of thinking of #1. He asked me "is it ok if I ask you for a strawberry. I said thanks for asking and no. Please wait for it to be offered. It seems a bit harsh (i know mom- such a softy :-)) but I can see the fruits of it already! Such a smart boy! The kids received so many wonderful gifts of love from our family and friends!I too love receiving cards and pictures of your families!I actually planned and followed through, on time, with a gift I made for our parents (Phil & Linda yours in on it's way :-)) progress! Hanging out with our neighbors - Henriette and Martin (lots of praying for them) Singing Away in a Manger with my Elli at CalvaryREALLY enjoyed the time we spent with our families this year! Even more than usual! His Kids (our Homeschool group) has come to a close - as I look through our pictures of the last several years I realize how much time and how many awesome experiences we have had with those wonderful people - we will miss it! Spending lots of time on our new elyptical (lot of calories being burned in this family - even by the "bag of bones") Enjoying Ping - our family pet! Riley is loving it! (our sweet little duckling was the only survivor of a brutal attack - our hearts broke, yes even mine, for that little guy as he sat and looked over his maimed siblings) A movie date (Bedtime Stories) with the big kids - thanks mom and dad for hanging out with Charli CharMy favorite thing of all - a date with my sweet husband! Boogie boarding at the beach, napping on the beach, starbucks - you are a good chess player!, buy 1 get 1 Tropical cafe, spa & HOME time, Get fired up - painting a new family butter dish, dinner at Sue and Joe's! - Thanks Gma and Gpa Jones for the free day! Wasn't it AMAZING Phil! God is doing great things in our relationship! All glory to Him! Thanks you Lord!

New years resolution - If I must commit to one - is something God has layed heavy on my heart for this year! I won't go into any detail. I'll only say that if we can't LOVE our families then how can we truly LOVE those in the world! So, God give me strength and patience as I move through life LOVING those you blessed me with and give them a desire to LOVE you! I also pray that those individuals would be able to see past my faults and hear the words you place in my mouth! I am looking forward to the year! To what God has planned and watching our lives grow closer to His!

I wish for you Love and a Happy New Year to you all!